Applied to Over 14,000 Workers at Investment and Funded Agencies
Monthly Wage at 2.66 Million Won, Up 19% from Minimum Wage
The living wage (hourly wage) for non-regular workers and employees of affiliated institutions under the Seoul Metropolitan Government for the next year has been set at 12,757 won.
On September 10, Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that the 2027 living wage has been set at 12,757 won, up 636 won or 5.2% from this year’s 12,121 won. This is 2,057 won higher than the 2027 minimum wage announced by the government in August, which is 10,700 won. The living wage represents 119.2% of the minimum wage, surpassing the government’s target appropriate wage level of 118%.
The living wage is a wage standard set by Seoul Metropolitan Government that applies to temporary and non-regular workers at the city and its affiliated organizations. It is set at a higher level than the statutory minimum wage to ensure the stability of workers’ livelihoods and the quality of their lives. The system was first introduced in 2015. Regular public officials of Seoul Metropolitan Government are subject to pay according to the Local Public Officials Act.
The living wage increase rate in Seoul rose to 5.2% for next year, compared to 2.5% in 2024, 3.0% in 2025, and 2.9% this year. The increase rate for next year is the highest since 2019 (10.2%). Based on a 40-hour workweek and 209 working hours per month, this corresponds to a monthly wage of 2,666,213 won.
The reason for the higher increase rate this year is, among others, the government’s policy to promote an “appropriate wage.” In the budget proposal for next year, the government announced that non-regular workers in the public sector would receive an “appropriate wage” amounting to 118% of the minimum wage. This translates to around 12,626 won.
The living wage applies to approximately 14,000 employees, including direct employees of Seoul Metropolitan Government and its investment and funded institutions, employees of subsidiaries of investment institutions, workers in private consignment institutions that are 100% funded by city finances, and participants in the Maeryeok (Attractive) Jobs program.
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Kyunghwan Park, Director of the Citizens’ Labor Bureau at Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, “We have significantly increased next year’s living wage in consideration of the growing living expenses for workers due to recent rises in the cost of living,” and added, “We will operate the system robustly so that the living wage can effectively contribute to the actual stability and improved quality of life for workers.”
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