South Koreans worked 200 more hours than OECD average last year

South Koreans worked 200 more hours compared to their OECD counterparts, ranking third place among other 36 member countries. 

The study, which excludes Turkey, found that South Korean workers worked 1,908 hours a year in 2020, 221 hours more than the OECD average of 1,687 hours.

Annually, working hours in Korea were 141 hours longer than in the US (at 1,767 hours per year), and 310 hours longer than Japan’s working hours of 1,598 hours per year. 

In the region, Australia recorded 1,683 hours per annum, while New Zealand logged 1,739 hours in the year. 

South Korea has recorded the longest work hours among other OECD countries for four straight years from 2008 to 2011. Despite efforts, the country has still maintained its high ranking. 

In hopes to reduce the number of hours worked, the incumbent administration has introduced a 52-hour workweek guideline, a change from the former 68-hour workweek, writes The Korea Herald. 

READ: South Korea’s wages lag behind OECD average

Despite the long working hours, separate OECD data showed that South Korea still lagged behind major countries in terms of employment. 

In 2020, it recorded a 65.9% employment rate for people aged between 15-64, falling behind neighbouring countries such as Japan, at 77.3%, New Zealand, at 76.8%, and Australia at 72.7%.