North Korea South Korea

Updated 2026-05-15

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

South Korea

Minimum Wage

₩10,320 /hr

$6.84 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₩3,960,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -96% North Korea vs South Korea

North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while South Korea sets a floor of $7/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $2,625/mo in South Korea, a 23.6:1 ratio.

North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to South Korea's 2.7%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between North Korea and South Korea
Metric	North Korea	South Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	None	₩10,320 $6.84	—
Minimum wage /mo	None	₩2,156,880 $1,429.69	—
Minimum wage /yr	None	₩25,882,560 $17,156.22	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	₩3,960,000 /mo $2,624.88	-95.8%
Avg. net salary /mo	₩90,000 /mo $100	₩3,170,000 /mo $2,101.23	-95.2%
Median individual income /yr	N/A/yr	₩33,360,000 /yr $22,112.63	—

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means North Korea is higher.

Work Week

North Korea: 48 hrs/wk standard

The North Korean Labour Law formally sets an 8-hour working day. In practice, many workers are required to spend additional hours in compulsory political study, military training, and 'volunteer' labour campaigns. The actual workweek for state employees varies widely by sector and location. No independent verification of labour conditions is possible.
South Korea: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 52 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Standards Act sets 40 hrs/week base with maximum 12 hrs overtime (52 total). Overtime, night work (10pm-6am), and holiday work each receive a 50% premium. Businesses with 5-49 employees had a phased implementation completed in 2021. Government proposed a flexible 69-hour weekly cap in 2023 but withdrew after public backlash.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while South Korea mandates 40 hours.

See this comparison from South Korea's perspective: South Korea vs North Korea

Compare North Korea with...

North Korea vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

North Korea vs China ¥ 25 /hr

North Korea vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

North Korea vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

North Korea vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

North Korea vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

North Korea vs France € 12.02 /hr

North Korea vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

North Korea vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

North Korea vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

North Korea vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

North Korea vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

North Korea vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

North Korea vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

North Korea vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

North Korea vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

North Korea vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

North Korea vs Switzerland

North Korea vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

North Korea vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

North Korea vs Sweden

North Korea vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

North Korea vs Singapore

North Korea vs Norway

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or South Korea?

In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In South Korea, it is ₩10,320/hr ($6.84 USD).

How much less does the average worker earn in North Korea compared to South Korea?

The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to ₩3,960,000/mo ($2,624.88 USD) in South Korea. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 2262% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and South Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in South Korea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between North Korea and South Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Korea. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in South Korea working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.