💰 Economy
12.4% of wage workers earned below the minimum wage: why the gap structure matters
ⓘ This article is for general information only and does not replace professional medical, legal, or financial advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making important decisions.
Reporting based on the Minimum Wage Commission's 2026 deliberation handbook shows that 2.769 million workers earned below the minimum wage last year. That equals 12.4% of the 22.413 million wage workers. The simple headline is roughly one in eight workers, but the real issue is where the shortfall is concentrated.
Key summary
- Workers below the minimum wage totaled 2.769 million, or 12.4% of all wage workers.
- The share was 30.3% at workplaces with one to four employees and 17.6% at workplaces with five to nine employees.
- By employment type, 38.5% of temporary workers and 32.0% of daily workers were below the minimum wage.
- The rate was relatively high among women, workers under 20, workers aged 60 or older, and those with a high-school education or less.
Verified facts
- The figures are based on the 2026 Minimum Wage Commission handbook and analysis of the supplementary Economically Active Population Survey.
- Recent rates moved between 15.3% in 2021, 12.7% in 2022, 13.7% in 2023, 12.5% in 2024, and 12.4% in 2025.
- At workplaces with 300 or more employees, the below-minimum share was 1.8%, compared with 30.3% at workplaces with one to four employees.
- The rate was 9.0% for men and 16.2% for women, while workers under 20 and those aged 60 or older also showed high shares.
Why it matters
Minimum-wage debates often focus on the hourly amount and the increase rate. These numbers point to a different question: how well the legal floor is applied in real workplaces. If shortfalls are concentrated in small businesses and unstable jobs, the problem cannot be solved through the wage level debate alone. Inspection, employer guidance, working-hour records, and support for vulnerable sectors all matter.
What to check
| Item | What is confirmed | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Overall share | 2.769 million workers, 12.4% | Look beyond the average and ask which groups face the gap. |
| Workplace size | 30.3% at one to four employees; 17.6% at five to nine | Small employers need both compliance support and cost-management guidance. |
| Employment type | Temporary 38.5%, daily 32.0% | The more unstable the job, the larger the minimum-wage blind spot can become. |
| Worker groups | Women 16.2%, under 20 at 49.5%, 60 or older at 31.9% | Contracts and working-hour records are especially important for young, older, and female workers. |
What to watch next
- After the 2027 minimum wage notice, watch how on-site guidance and supervision are strengthened.
- For short-time, temporary, and daily work, how working hours are calculated may become the core dispute.
- For very small businesses, wage-system guidance and management support need to accompany enforcement.
Search keywords
- workers below minimum wage 12.4% Korea
- 2026 Minimum Wage Commission handbook
- temporary workers below minimum wage 38.5%
- small workplace minimum wage Korea
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Labor note: This article is general information based on public statistics and reporting. For actual wage arrears, minimum-wage violations, or contract disputes, collect contracts, working-hour records, and pay statements, then consult the labor ministry or a qualified professional.
📚 Sources