Wage Data Trends by Company and Job — 2026-07-10
This report breaks down the latest wage negotiations at major companies and the ongoing 2027 minimum wage talks. It covers the Korean Air deal and the current state of labor-management negotiations.
Wage Data Trends by Company and Job — 2026-07-10
Major Wage Increases by Company
Korean Air Reaches 2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement
On July 7, labor and management at Korean Air finalized their 2026 wage and collective bargaining agreement. The details include:
- Base Salary Increase: A 2.5% hike based on the total wage pool.
- Special Bonus: A one-time payment of 2 million KRW.
2027 Minimum Wage Negotiations: A Persistent Gap
Deliberations for the 2027 minimum wage are underway, with the gap between labor and management narrowing to 730 KRW as of July 9.
Current Proposals (as of July 9)
- Worker Representatives: 11,250 KRW (compared to this year)
- Employer Representatives: 10,520 KRW
- Gap: 730 KRW
In the previous meeting on July 8, the gap had been 690 KRW, with labor proposing 11,120 KRW and management suggesting 10,530 KRW, but the margin widened during the submission of the 8th round of revisions.
Analysis and Background Issues
Wage Gap by Company Size
A key trend in recent wage negotiations is the disparity based on company size. Data from the first half of 2025 shows:
- Large Corporations (300+ employees): 5.7% increase
- SMEs (fewer than 300 employees): 2.7% increase
- Gap: 3.0 percentage points
The core reason for this gap lies in special compensation, such as performance bonuses. Large companies tend to significantly boost total compensation through bonuses and incentives on top of base pay.
Difficulties in Minimum Wage Talks
The 2027 minimum wage negotiations are dragging on due to the conflict between rising inflation and difficult business conditions. The management side has argued for lower increases, with some members even walking out of recent meetings. The Minimum Wage Commission has set August 5 as the final deadline, with nine rounds of revisions submitted so far.
Data Collection Criteria: Includes only reports published after Tuesday, July 8, 2026. Last Updated: Thursday, July 10, 2026
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
Powered by
