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Household income in Q4 rises 4% on higher wages, holiday bonuses

Published: 26 Feb. 2026, 14:39

Seoul Station is filled with people on the last day of the Chuseok holiday, in this file photo taken Oct. 9, 2025. [YONHAP]

Korea's average household income rose 4 percent from a year earlier in the fourth quarter, driven by a rise in wages, government data showed Thursday.

The average income of households was 5.42 million won ($3,800) per month in the September-December period, according to the data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics.

Income earned through wages went up 3.9 percent in the cited period to an average of 3.37 million won per month. Those through private businesses gained 3 percent on year to 1.12 million won, and transfer income jumped 7.9 percent to 766,000 won.

"The average household income for the fourth quarter increased on year due to the effect of increased wages and bonuses received before the Chuseok [harvest] holiday," the agency said.

Monthly household spending grew 4.4 percent on year to 4.08 million won, as people spent more on transportation and other services, including expenditures for funerals and marriages, the agency said.

Average monthly household spending for the entire year of 2025 inched up 1.7 percent on year to 2.94 million won.

In contrast, real household spending, adjusted for inflation, fell 0.4 percent, as people reduced spending on education and household services, such as child care and nursing care, the agency said.

Yonhap