Key Facts: South Korea vs Eritrea Wages
- South Korea Minimum Wage
- ₩10,320/hr ($6.84 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- South Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩3,960,000 /mo ($2,624.88 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Minimum Wage Commission (최저임금위원회) (2026-05-15), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
South Korea 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-05-15
The minimum wage in South Korea is roughly 6 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,625/mo in South Korea versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 6.6:1 ratio. South Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.7% compared to 6.0%.
South Korea's unemployment rate is 2.7% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Korea | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₩10,320 $6.84 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₩2,156,880 $1,429.69 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₩25,882,560 $17,156.22 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩3,960,000 /mo $2,624.88 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩3,170,000 /mo $2,101.23 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | ₩33,360,000 /yr $22,112.63 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means South Korea is higher.
Work Week
- 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.
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in South Korea earns 485% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: South Korea mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Korea are $274 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs South Korea
Compare South Korea with...
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Is the minimum wage higher in South Korea or Eritrea?
In South Korea, the minimum wage is ₩10,320/hr ($6.84 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 485% in USD terms. That nominal gap does not account for local prices; see the purchasing power comparison below for a cost-of-living-adjusted view. Workers in South Korea may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in South Korea compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in South Korea is ₩3,960,000/mo ($2,624.88 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in South Korea earn approximately 556% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Korea and Eritrea 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 Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between South Korea and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Korea. Workers in South Korea work 40 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.