Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin stated on September 22 that the living wage is an important system that contributes to worker stability and revitalizes the local economy.
On this day, Mayor Shin expressed this view after confirming next year's living wage following deliberations by the Living Wage Committee and the Labor Rights Committee.
He noted that the living wage was determined by comprehensively considering the financial situation and rising prices affecting workers.
The confirmed living wage for 2027 is set at 12,900 won per hour.
This amount represents a 380 won increase, or 3.0%, from this year's wage of 12,520 won, and is 2,200 won, or 20.6%, higher than next year's legal minimum wage of 10,700 won.
Based on a standard of 209 working hours per month, this translates to 2,696,100 won, an increase of 79,420 won from this year's 2,616,680 won.
The living wage will apply to over 2,500 workers, including those employed by the city of Seongnam, workers at investment and public institutions, and employees of companies and organizations entrusted with city tasks, starting January 1.
Mayor Shin established the living wage support ordinance in 2015 and has been implementing the living wage system since 2016.
Citizens have generally noted that the increase in the living wage could help stabilize workers' livelihoods, but they also expressed the need to observe how effective it will be in light of rising prices.
A citizen, identified as Kim, remarked, "I hope the increase in the living wage will help workers' lives, but given the rising prices, I hope we continue to see policies that have a tangible impact."
Meanwhile, Mayor Shin reiterated that the living wage for 2027 was determined by taking into account the financial conditions and rising prices affecting workers.
He added, "We will continue to implement labor policies that allow workers to work in a stable environment while carefully monitoring the changing economic and labor conditions."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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