Hannoon
The Korea HeraldOther

Proposed civil servant pay hike to lift lowest-rank salary to above W3m per month

The South Korean government has proposed a 3.9% increase in civil servant pay for the next year, which would raise the starting salary of the lowest-ranking officials to above 3 million won (approximately $2,200) per month. This would mark the largest increase in 16 years. The Ministry of Planning and Budget stated that the Cabinet discussed the spending proposal for next year, maintaining a pay hike above 3% for the third consecutive year, following increases of 3.0% in 2025 and 3.5% in 2026.

7:54 PM

Source The Korea Herald

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The South Korean government has proposed a 3.9% increase in civil servant pay for the next year, which would raise the starting salary of the lowest-ranking officials to above 3 million won (approximately $2,200) per month. This would mark the largest increase in 16 years.

The Ministry of Planning and Budget stated that the Cabinet discussed the spending proposal for next year, maintaining a pay hike above 3% for the third consecutive year, following increases of 3.0% in 2025 and 3.5% in 2026.

If approved by parliament, this raise will be the highest since 2011, when civil servant pay rose 5.1% after a two-year freeze due to the 2008 global financial crisis. The proposed hike would exceed next year's minimum wage increase of 3.7% and the government's inflation forecasts of around 2.2%. Once implemented, first-year Grade 9 civil servants will receive around 3 million won a month, including base pay and allowances, compared to the current average of 2.86 million won.