Office workers take a walk near IFC Mall in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on May 18.YONHAP
Employees at 345 of Korea’s 500 largest companies earned an average of 54.99 million won ($40,000) per person in the first half of the year, up 7.1 percent, or 3.63 million won, from 51.36 million won during the same period last year, according to corporate data research firm Ceoscore on Wednesday.
By pay bracket, 150 companies, or 43.5 percent of the total, reported average employee pay of between 40 million won and 60 million won — the largest group.
Another 86 companies, or 24.9 percent, paid between 20 million won and 40 million won, followed by 64 companies, or 18.6 percent, at between 60 million won and 80 million won and 23 companies, or 6.7 percent, at between 80 million won and 100 million won.
By company, Korea Investment Holdings had the highest average employee pay at 184 million won. The figure rose 13.6 percent, or 22 million won, from 162 million won in the first half of last year.
Meritz Securities followed at 165.21 million won, Korea Investment & Securities at 162 million won, Yuanta Securities Korea at 149 million won, SK hynix at 144 million won, Dunamu at 139.75 million won, Mirae Asset Securities at 136 million won, Meritz Financial Group at 130 million won, Hana Securities at 124 million won and NH Investment & Securities at 123 million won.
Meritz Securities office in Yeouido, western SeoulMERITZ SECURITIES
Securities firms accounted for 12, or 60 percent, of the 20 companies in which average employee pay exceeded 100 million won. The figure reflects the securities industry’s compensation structure, in which performance bonuses account for a large share of pay.
By contrast, fashion and retail company E-Land had the lowest average employee pay at 17 million won.
CJ Freshway followed at 19 million won, and Hyundai Green Food at 20.32 million won. L&F and Hanwha Hotels & Resorts each averaged 23 million won, and Daou Data, Otoki, Emart, Kolon Global and Harim each recorded 26 million won.
Pedestrians cross the street in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Aug. 3.NEWS1
By industry, financial holding companies ranked highest with average employee pay of 113.88 million won, up 5.2 percent from 108.25 million won in the first half of last year.
Securities firms followed at 107.1 million won, telecommunications companies at 69.67 million won, banks at 67 million won, credit and finance companies at 64.06 million won, insurers at 61.94 million won, service companies at 58.83 million won, shipbuilding, machinery and equipment companies at 57.51 million won, trading companies at 55.72 million won and petrochemical companies at 53.83 million won.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
