The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Disgraced ex-minister's daughter says she feels proud, qualified as a doctor

  • 3

    Coupang reveals Asia's largest fulfillment center in Daegu

  • 5

    'Celebrity forests' emerge as new K-pop trend in Seoul

  • 7

    Tiger endures 3 years of solitary confinement in closed zoo

  • 9

    Netflix survival show 'Physical 100' attracts viewers with sweat, muscle and human story

  • 11

    Rescuers race against time as Turkey-Syria quake death toll passes 5,000

  • 13

    Ex-justice minister, daughter blamed for unrepentant attitude over academic fraud

  • 15

    SM founder Lee Soo-man returns home, in hospital to treat arm fracture

  • 17

    Seoul narrows in on new slogan

  • 19

    Korea to allow currency trading by offshore firms, extend market hours

  • 2

    Singer Lee Seung-gi to marry actor Lee Da-in in April

  • 4

    SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing

  • 6

    Ex-gov't employee summarily indicted for alleged attempt to sell Jungkook's lost hat

  • 8

    Seoul city zeroes in on foreign residents' unpaid taxes

  • 10

    Korean Peninsula may face fallout from balloon saga

  • 12

    Peak Time: Survival show for lesser-known K-pop boy bands to hit air

  • 14

    INTERVIEW'Korea, US can create synergy in space industry': NASA ambassador

  • 16

    Apple confirms launch of Apple Pay in Korea

  • 18

    Chainsaw Fest set to rip apart Club SHARP

  • 20

    Korea opens metaverse platform for Korean-language learning

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Thu, February 9, 2023 | 08:40
Fashion
Is four-day work week a realistic aim for Korea?
Posted : 2017-04-14 17:25
Updated : 2017-04-14 18:17
Ko Dong-hwan
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Amid aging population and emergence of the fourth industrial revolution flanked by artificial intelligence and automation, Korean workers may no longer be subject to five days a week ― or not. / Korea Times file
Amid aging population and emergence of the fourth industrial revolution flanked by artificial intelligence and automation, Korean workers may no longer be subject to five days a week ― or not. / Korea Times file

By Ko Dong-hwan

Amid aging population and emergence of the fourth industrial revolution flanked by artificial intelligence and automation, Korean workers may no longer be subject to five days a week ― or not. / Korea Times file
Moon Jae-in
When Rep. Moon Jae-in promised to reduce Koreans' working hours possibly to four days a week, if he became president, it sounded appealing but unrealistic.

The Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker in January spoke at his political strategy think-tank meeting about a cosmetic product manufacturer in the city of Chungju. He said the company introduced a four-day week in 2010, which had resulted in a 20 percent increase in sales and more than doubled the number of employees.

"I will create 500,000 jobs by reducing the legal working hours to 52 hours a week," Moon said. "Thirteen years ago when five days a week practice was suggested, conglomerates and conservative media bucked the idea, saying it would ruin the economy.

"But despite 500 yearly working hours reduced with the idea in place, our economy improved and people saw better lives."

He was not blinded by the four-days-a-week idea but was convinced he could reduce legal working hours by some definite number.

Many Koreans would welcome four days a week, but also question whether it is feasible. They like the idea because it promises more freedom outside the office such as "a day with quality evening life" which many workers would like.

But, for employers, it is intertwined with so many structural teeth that settling it in place would take long time.

In March, a National Assembly forum for future industry and quality employment concluded that yearly working hours for Koreans should be reduced from 2,113 to 1,800 hours by 2020.

Hosted by Rep. Roh Hoe-chan of the Justice Party and Rep. Seo Hyung-soo of Democratic Party of Korea, the forum suggested mandatory days off and banning overtime.

"The five-days-a-week system, or 40 hours a week, isn't working out on laborers' part," a senior researcher from the Korea Labor & Society Institute said at the forum.

"It is time to introduce more practical laws to reduce working hours that will help aged laborers and part-timers in addition to regular workers."

With the fourth industrial revolution in full swing across the globe, emergence of artificial intelligence adds to reasons five days a week will not last permanently. When humans are expected to be replaced by much more efficient robots, reducing people's working hours will be only natural.

"In bygone eras, workers had to put in more effort for longer hours to receive higher wages," according to Now News. "But the fourth industry revolution will drive more countries and more companies to make people work fewer hours, raising the possibility of working four days a week in Korea.".

But the idea also raises worries.
Amid aging population and emergence of the fourth industrial revolution flanked by artificial intelligence and automation, Korean workers may no longer be subject to five days a week ― or not. / Korea Times file
A Uniqlo store in Tokyo, Japan / Korea Times file
Prof. Jeong In-kyo from Inha University said reducing working hours would directly lead to a cut in wages, which would be "a hard nut to crack in persuading workers."

Experts endorsing the idea say that to implement it, compromising with workers to adjust their wages and working hours would be inevitable.

Other problems include that reduced working hours will naturally affect workers' professional skills and productivity. Small to medium-sized companies will fare particularly badly with worker-employer relations jeopardized by decreased sales as a result of reduced working hours.

Rep. Yun Ho-jung said reducing working hours "must be mediated by politicians to persuade workers and employers."

Four days a week is common in Germany and Japan. As of 2015, Germans' yearly working hours were 1,371 hours, the lowest among OECD members, and average hourly income was more than $32.

Koreans work more than 2,100 hours a year and earn $15 an hour. Germany also had the second-lowest jobless rate of 4 percent as of 2016 after the Czech republic.

In Korea, the jobless rate was more than 10 percent in 2016 and the misery of job-seeking adults in their 20s and 30s was dubbed"hell Joseon," referring to the nation's historic dynasty from 1392 to 1910.

Japan's Yahoo Japan, clothing brand Uniqlo and housing construction company Daiwa House offer a four-day week to attract young employees in an aging society. Automaker Toyota and human resource company Recruit Holdings allow staff to work from home to give them more freedom.

The movement for a better working environment is progressing in Korea as well, with some civil servants allowed to leave work two hours earlier at 4 p.m. on Friday.

Beginning with the Ministry of Personnel Management, the early-finish practice once a month will also be allowed at the Ministry of Government Legislation, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance within this month.

Emailaoshima11@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1Korean Peninsula may face fallout from balloon saga Korean Peninsula may face fallout from balloon saga
2Turkey-Syria earthquake Turkey-Syria earthquake
3Daughter-centered photos, title of honor reinforce speculation over North Korea succession Daughter-centered photos, title of honor reinforce speculation over North Korea succession
4[INTERVIEW] 'Growth slowdown can accelerate depletion of retirement pension fund' INTERVIEW'Growth slowdown can accelerate depletion of retirement pension fund'
5SM's management dispute to benefit KakaoSM's management dispute to benefit Kakao
6National Assembly votes to impeach interior minister for Itaewon tragedyNational Assembly votes to impeach interior minister for Itaewon tragedy
7SM6 Feel attracts customers with popular options, low price SM6 Feel attracts customers with popular options, low price
8Philip Morris seeks to surpass KT&G in e-cigarette market Philip Morris seeks to surpass KT&G in e-cigarette market
9[INTERVIEW] Veteran US photographer gives environment 'visual voice' to chronicle climate change INTERVIEWVeteran US photographer gives environment 'visual voice' to chronicle climate change
10Korean companies move to support victims in earthquake-hit Turkey, SyriaKorean companies move to support victims in earthquake-hit Turkey, Syria
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different? Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different?
2SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing
3The Boyz member Hyunjae apologizes for wearing hat with Rising Sun flag design The Boyz member Hyunjae apologizes for wearing hat with Rising Sun flag design
4Peak Time: Survival show for lesser-known K-pop boy bands to hit air Peak Time: Survival show for lesser-known K-pop boy bands to hit air
5K-pop stars and dating K-pop stars and dating
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group