All-in-One HR Services for Small Businesses: Up to 1.8 Million Won Annual Support for Employment Contracts and Payroll Management

Businesses with Fewer Than 30 Regular Employees

The government will subsidize HR platform usage fees to ease the burden of human resources and labor management for small businesses.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Economy and Finance announced that, starting February 1, they will officially launch the "Support Project for Establishing HR and Labor Management Systems in Small Businesses." Businesses with fewer than 30 employees can select one of 13 HR (Human Resources Management) platforms designated by the government and apply by phone or email to receive up to 1.8 million won per year (180,000 won per month) worth of services free of charge.

Eligible businesses must meet all of the following criteria: fewer than 30 regular employees as of the last day of the month prior to the service start date; not operating in fields with labor law expertise such as labor law firms, legal offices, or law firms; not engaged in general entertainment bar operations, dance entertainment bar operations, or gambling facility management and operation; no paid HR platform usage within three months prior to the service start date; and must not have received support from the same project in 2025.

The Proportion of Self-Employed Workers Among All Employed Drops Below 20% This Year

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Dongju Park = The proportion of self-employed workers among all employed persons this year has fallen below the 20% mark for the first time since related statistics began in 1963. The photo shows Myeongdong Street in Seoul on the 30th. September 30, 2024

Photo by Dongju Park

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The HR platforms are cloud-based software that allow businesses to handle HR and labor management tasks such as attendance tracking, payroll calculation, electronic employment contract creation and issuance, payroll ledger preparation, and mobile issuance of pay statements via smartphones and PCs. The purpose is to reduce administrative burdens for small businesses by providing all essential functions for labor law compliance in one place. The total project budget for this year is 900 million won.

Launched for the first time last year, the project saw participation from 1,162 businesses. According to a satisfaction survey (conducted November 1-15, 2025, with 475 businesses participating and a response rate of 40.9%), more than 70% of respondents were satisfied with the service, and over 80% said it helped improve their HR management capabilities and compliance with labor laws.

Feedback from participating companies has also been positive. Software development company A stated, "Digitalizing employment contracts and annual leave management has reduced costs and time, and eased management burdens." Wholesale and retail company B commented, "Sending pay statements immediately upon salary payment has increased trust between the owner and employees." Manufacturing company C reported, "Being able to record attendance via smartphone even while working outside the office has improved convenience and efficiency."

Lee Hyeonok, Director General for Labor Policy at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, said, "The smaller the business, where one person may be responsible for sales, general affairs, and HR tasks, the simpler HR and labor management should be. Utilizing HR platforms will enhance management capabilities in small businesses and help protect vulnerable workers."