Wage Trends by Company and Job — 2026-04-29

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Salary Levels by Key Company

Samsung Electronics — Rising wage tensions

As of April 2026, a major standoff is unfolding at Samsung Electronics. The union is demanding 40 trillion KRW in performance bonuses, while the company has proposed a 15% increase. Reports indicate that the ongoing strike is already leading to production disruptions.

Top Corporate Average Salaries (Saramin latest data, unit: 10,000 KRW)

According to the latest Saramin data, the top companies by average salary are:

• Large Corporations (Top 5):

  • 1st: SK Square Co., Ltd.: 278,720,000 KRW (down 3.8% YoY)
  • 2nd: DL Co., Ltd.: 205,660,000 KRW (up 2.5%)
  • 3rd: Bugook Securities Co., Ltd.: 195,080,000 KRW (up 0.6%)
  • 4th: Meritz Financial Group Inc.: 193,110,000 KRW (up 32.4%)
  • 5th: HiteJinro Holdings Co., Ltd.: 191,850,000 KRW (up 3%)

• Public Corporations (Top 3):

  • 1st: Korea International Trade Association (KITA): 100,860,000 KRW (up 3.4%)
  • 2nd: Korea Tourism Organization (Jeju Branch): 99,650,000 KRW (up 2.6%)
  • 3rd: Korea Financial Telecommunications & Clearings Institute: 99,060,000 KRW (up 2.8%)

• Foreign/Investment Firms (Top 4):

  • 1st: Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd.: 167,610,000 KRW (down 2.9%)
  • 2nd: Hana Financial Group Inc.: 163,600,000 KRW (up 6.5%)
  • 3rd: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.: 135,440,000 KRW (up 10.7%)
  • 4th: Samsung SDS Co., Ltd.: 134,330,000 KRW (up 3.3%)

⚠️ Saramin salary data is an estimate based on statistical analysis of HowMoney income data, internal collection, CreditJob, and other sources; actual company salaries may differ.

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Wage Change Status by Job

1. Minimum Wage — 10,320 KRW per hour

The 2026 minimum wage is set at 10,320 KRW per hour. For a 40-hour work week, the minimum monthly salary is approximately 2,156,880 KRW. Paying less than this is a violation of law. Including holiday pay, the effective hourly rate already exceeds 12,000 KRW.

2. Gaming Industry — Netmarble Group 2026 wage agreement reached

The Netmarble Group labor union finalized its 2026 wage negotiations across its six entities (Netmarble N2, Netmarble Nexus, Netmarble Neo, Netmarble Monster, Netmarble F&C, and Jamppat) and held a signing ceremony. Exact percentage increases were not disclosed.

3. Financial Sector — Meritz Financial Group's significant rise

According to Saramin, Meritz Financial Group saw a notable 32.4% increase in average salary (193,110,000 KRW). Hana Financial Group also reported a 6.5% increase (163,600,000 KRW).

4. Manufacturing/IT — Hyundai Mobis and Samsung SDS

Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. saw a 10.7% increase to 135,440,000 KRW, while Samsung SDS Co., Ltd. increased by 3.3% to 134,330,000 KRW.

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Analysis and Background

Samsung Electronics Strike — Production and Wages

The massive gap between the union's 40 trillion KRW bonus demand and the company's 15% proposal is attracting industry attention, as it may set a benchmark for future large-company wage negotiations.

Financial/Investment Sector High Pay

Other high-performers include Atinum Investment (280,110,000 KRW) and Stonebridge Ventures (280,030,000 KRW). Notably, Alteogen recorded an exceptional 128.2% salary increase to 223,190,000 KRW.

The Reality of a 40 Million KRW Salary

For an employee earning an annual salary of 40 million KRW, the actual monthly take-home pay is less than 3 million KRW (approximately 2.84 million KRW) due to taxes.

Editor's Note: Data from after 2026-04-27 focuses on the Samsung Electronics strike (issue.cyberbabarian.com) and updated minimum wage guidelines. Saramin's top 5 list reflects their latest available service data. Where specific percentages were unavailable, we have reported only verified facts.