Key Facts: South Korea vs South Sudan Wages
- South Korea Minimum Wage
- ₩10,320/hr ($6.84 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- South Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩3,960,000 /mo ($2,624.88 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Minimum Wage Commission (최저임금위원회) (2026-05-15), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
South Korea
South Sudan
Updated 2026-05-15
The minimum wage in South Korea is 349% higher than in South Sudan when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,625/mo in South Korea versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 96.4:1 ratio. South Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.7% compared to 12.4%.
South Korea's unemployment rate is 2.7% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Korea | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₩10,320 $6.84 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₩2,156,880 $1,429.69 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₩25,882,560 $17,156.22 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩3,960,000 /mo $2,624.88 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩3,170,000 /mo $2,101.23 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| 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.
- South Sudan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2017 sets 40 hours/week as standard. Enforcement is effectively non-existent across most of the country due to ongoing conflict, institutional collapse, and absence of functioning labour inspectorates.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from South Sudan to South Korea would see a 349% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs South Korea
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Korea or South Sudan?
In South Korea, the minimum wage is ₩10,320/hr ($6.84 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). South Korea has the higher rate by 349% 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 Sudan 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 South Sudan?
The average gross salary in South Korea is ₩3,960,000/mo ($2,624.88 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in South Korea earn approximately 9541% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Korea and South Sudan 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 South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between South Korea and South Sudan?
Both South Korea and South Sudan mandate a similar standard work week of 40 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.