Gijang County in Busan Sets Next Year's Living Wage at 11,923 Won, 1,600 Won Higher Than Minimum Wage

Expectations for Improved Quality of Life and Greater Wage Equity for Workers

Gijang County has set the living wage for next year at 11,923 won per hour.

This amount represents a 3% increase from this year and is 1,603 won higher than the 2026 minimum wage (10,320 won) announced by the government.

Gijang County (Governor Jung Jongbok) recently held a meeting of the Gijang County Living Wage Committee and announced on the 27th that it had reviewed and approved this decision.

The living wage applies to employees of Gijang County and its affiliated or funded institutions, as well as employees of organizations and companies entrusted with work by the county. However, temporary workers employed in public projects operated with national or municipal funds, such as public employment or community projects, are excluded.

Governor Jung Jongbok stated, "The living wage is not simply a wage increase, but a system designed to guarantee workers a dignified life," and added, "I hope this decision will spread to the private sector and lead to improved working conditions throughout the local community."

Gijang County reviews and announces the applicable living wage for the following year through the Living Wage Committee every year. The determined living wage will be applied from January 1 of the following year to employees working for the county and its affiliated or funded institutions.