[Time in the AI Battlefield: Trapped by the 52-Hour Rule]
⑥ What Is Needed to Make the 52-Hour Workweek More Flexible
Protecting Health Rights with Clear Job and Wage Standards
Compensation Linked to Stock Options and RSUs Is Essential
There have been calls for the introduction of a "Korean-style white-collar exemption" system to compete with leading AI nations such as the United States and China. Experts agree that the current 52-hour workweek needs to be made more flexible, allowing for extended work hours while institutionalizing health protection and economic compensation. As the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has launched research into improving the 52-hour workweek system, attention is turning to whether institutional reforms will accelerate in the future.
The Current State of Korea's AI Industry
South Korea, aiming to become one of the top three AI powerhouses, is currently facing a shortage of developers and practical professionals in the AI field. According to the "Global AI Index 2025" released by Tortoise Media in the UK on December 26, Korea ranked fifth overall in AI capabilities. While the country scored high in the comprehensive ranking among 93 countries worldwide, it ranked only 13th in talent and 17th in industrial ecosystem. This indicates not only a lack of developers and AI professionals but also that the scale and scope of private investment and the dynamism of the industrial ecosystem are relatively weak.
In particular, Korea is significantly lagging behind the United States and China in terms of talent. The "National Strategic Technology R&D Workforce Survey" published by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning found that Korea has only 21,000 core AI researchers, ranking ninth worldwide. In the same survey, China ranked first with 410,000, followed by India (195,000) and the United States (120,000). According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, China and the United States dominate the top 25% of citations for advanced data analytics technologies, including AI. China had the highest proportion of undergraduates at 22.5%, while the United States led in the proportion of graduate degree holders and those employed, at 27.8% and 25.3%, respectively. Korea's share in all these categories was only in the 3% range.
Given these circumstances, there are clear limits to the growth of Korean AI companies. An analysis by the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry of CB Insights' list of global unicorns (private startups valued at over 1 billion dollars) showed that, as of October this year, 36.3% of unicorns in the top 10 countries, including the United States and China, were in the AI and IT solutions sector. In contrast, only 15.4% of Korean unicorns were in AI and related fields.
The Need for a Korean-Style White-Collar Exemption System
Calls are growing to revise the 52-hour workweek to allow highly skilled professionals in the AI industry to immerse themselves in their work for extended periods. Professor Yoon Dongyeol of Konkuk University's Department of Business Administration has argued for the introduction of a Korean-style white-collar exemption system, proposing conditions such as: ▲ clear standards for job roles, wages, and responsibilities; ▲ autonomy through written consent, the right to withdraw, and a ban on disadvantages; and ▲ protection of health rights, such as minimum consecutive rest periods. Professor Yoon explained, "If unofficial long working hours outside the institutional framework continue to increase, both the sustainability of the industry and social trust could be undermined," highlighting the urgency of institutional reform. He also warned, "Highly skilled talent prefers flexible, performance-oriented work environments, so there is a significant risk that they may move to Japan or the United States, where regulations are less rigid than in Korean companies."
AI research and development is characterized by unclear methods of work and time allocation. Therefore, measuring performance by outcomes rather than total weekly work hours is more conducive to immersion. Sufficient rest must also be guaranteed. For example, one possible approach is to allow unlimited overtime for three months, followed by three months of concentrated rest. Yoo Ilho, Head of Employment and Labor Policy at the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry and author of the report "International Comparison and Implications of the Working Hours Exemption System," said, "The goal is not simply to allow long working hours, but to enable professionals to choose overtime with autonomy," adding, "Along with this, sufficient leave and compensation should be provided for periods of intense work."
There are also calls to discuss monetary compensation measures alongside improvements to the 52-hour workweek. Converting to a non-inclusive wage system would ensure clear compensation for additional work hours, while stock options and restricted stock units (RSUs) could be used to attract highly skilled professionals to the AI sector. Recently, Naver introduced stock grants, and SK Telecom implemented performance share units (PSUs). Actively providing employee incentives is seen as a way to secure top talent.
Government's Conservative Stance: 'Social Consensus Needed'
The government is currently conducting research on relaxing the 52-hour workweek only in the venture (startup) sector. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups is promoting research on a "venture-type working hours system." The idea is to develop an appropriate working hours system for specific employees who have received stock options.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups stated, "We understand that employees in the field are open-minded about extended work hours," adding, "Since more than 70% of startup employees say they are willing to work beyond the 52-hour limit if sufficiently compensated, we believe further research is needed on working hours suitable for startups."
Paik Kyunghun, Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology, Han Seongsuk, Minister of SMEs and Startups, and other cabinet members are entering the Cabinet Meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on November 25. 2025.11.25 Photo by Jo Yongjun
However, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, which oversee AI and labor standards, are reluctant to pursue institutional reform, citing a lack of social consensus. The Ministry of Science and ICT said, "Reforming the 52-hour workweek system requires social consensus, so we will review it while listening to various opinions from the industry and other stakeholders." An official from the Ministry of Employment and Labor expressed a somewhat negative stance, saying, "Working hours have a significant impact not only on corporate productivity but also on workers' health and work-life balance, so social dialogue involving both labor and management is necessary."
Discussions in the National Assembly are also progressing slowly. The amendment to the Labor Standards Act, which would make exceptions to the 52-hour workweek regulation, has not passed the relevant standing committee, the Climate, Energy, Environment, and Labor Committee, and remains pending. Deliberations on the amendment are expected to carry over into next year.
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