South Korea North Korea

Updated 2026-05-15

South Korea

Minimum Wage

₩10,320 /hr

$6.62 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₩3,960,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +2187% South Korea vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, South Korea mandates a wage floor of $7/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,542/mo in South Korea versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 22.9:1 ratio.

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

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between South Korea and North Korea
Metric	South Korea	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	₩10,320 $6.62	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	₩2,156,880 $1,384.31	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	₩25,882,560 $16,611.72	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	₩3,960,000 /mo $2,541.57	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+2187.4%
Avg. net salary /mo	₩3,170,000 /mo $2,034.54	₩90,000 /mo $100	+1934.5%
Median individual income /yr	₩33,360,000 /yr $21,410.83	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.
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.

What This Means for Workers

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

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

Compare South Korea with...

South Korea vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

South Korea vs China ¥ 25 /hr

South Korea vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

South Korea vs India ₹ 4,628 /mo

South Korea vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

South Korea vs France € 12.02 /hr

South Korea vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

South Korea vs Australia A$ 26.44 /hr

South Korea vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

South Korea vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

South Korea vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

South Korea vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

South Korea vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

South Korea vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

South Korea vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

South Korea vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

South Korea vs Switzerland

South Korea vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

South Korea vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

South Korea vs Sweden

South Korea vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

South Korea vs Singapore

South Korea vs Norway

South Korea vs Austria

Frequently Asked Questions

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

In South Korea, the minimum wage is ₩10,320/hr ($6.62 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in South Korea is ₩3,960,000/mo ($2,541.57 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in South Korea earn approximately 2187% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Korea and North 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 South Korea and North Korea?

North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 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.