Flexible work in South Korea continues to grow slowly, despite rising demand from workers across multiple sectors. As of August last year, only 15 percent of wage workers in the country had flexible work schedules. This data comes from Statistics Korea, which released its annual findings on Thursday.
Although flexible work in South Korea saw minor shifts in 2024, the changes remained uneven. The number of flexible workers dropped by 0.6 percentage points compared to August 2023. Among regular or permanent employees, 20.1 percent had flexible schedules, reflecting a slight increase of 0.6 points. However, non-regular workers experienced a larger decline, falling 2.2 points to just 6.9 percent.
The survey also asked those with flexible work about their specific arrangements. Around 35 percent reported choosing their start and end times while meeting daily and weekly hour requirements. Another 29.5 percent worked under systems with extended hours during peak times and reduced hours when workloads eased. Meanwhile, 25.4 percent said they followed fully-flexible systems, allowing them to choose their weekly and daily hours within legal monthly limits.
Remote work also played a part in South Korea’s flexibility landscape. Roughly 15.9 percent worked from home, while 12 percent operated under shortened schedules of 15–30 hours weekly. These systems, although still rare, provided some workers with better work-life balance and scheduling control.
Significantly, demand for flexible work in South Korea keeps growing. Among workers without such arrangements, 48.1 percent expressed interest in adopting flexible schedules. That figure marks a 1.1-point increase compared to the year before. Many workers desired fully-flexible setups, with 34 percent preferring control over daily and weekly hours. Another 29.4 percent hoped for shift-based flexibility, and 25.2 percent sought reduced work hours.
However, flexible work in South Korea still trails far behind levels seen in Europe. A separate study published last week revealed that only 21.9 percent of Korean women raising young children benefit from flexible work. Among men in similar situations, just 17.9 percent enjoy such options. In contrast, over 60 percent of women and nearly 58 percent of men in European Union countries have flexible work arrangements. Dr. Jung Sung-mi of the Korean Women’s Development Institute conducted this comparative study.
Despite the relatively low access, many Korean workers find flexible work more productive. According to the Korea Labor Institute’s 2022 report, 53.1 percent of those using flexible hours reported higher productivity. Additionally, 40.8 percent said productivity stayed the same, while only 6.1 percent felt it declined. Among those with fully-flexible schedules, 41.8 percent saw improved outcomes. Of those who worked remotely, 34.7 percent also felt productivity increased.
The data suggest a growing disconnect between what workers want and what they receive. Flexible work in South Korea remains limited, even as more people see its benefits and ask for change. Studies consistently show that workers believe flexible schedules help them perform better and balance responsibilities.
Still, rigid employment practices remain common, especially among non-regular employees. Policymakers may need to act if they hope to close the gap between South Korea and more flexible economies. Until then, the desire for flexible work in South Korea continues to outpace its availability.
