Number of labour inspectors in South Korea

South Korea: Number of labour inspectors was 2,141 in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
2,141
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
4th
of 71 countries
All-time high
2,742
in 2021
All-time low
1,080
in 2013
Years of data
12
2009–2023

Number of labour inspectors in South Korea, 2009–2023

01.0k2.0k3.0k2009201620232009: 1.6k2010: 1.6k2013: 1.1k2014: 1.1k2015: 1.5k2017: 1.3k2018: 1.9k2019: 2.5k2020: 2.4k2021: 2.7k2022: 2.1k2023: 2.1k

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for number of labour inspectors in South Korea is 2,141, measured in 2023.

The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 98.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of labour inspectors in South Korea peaked at 2,742 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,080, in 2013.

That places South Korea 4th out of 71 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.

Number of labour inspectors in South Korea, year by year

Annual values for Number of labour inspectors in South Korea, 2009 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2009 1,606
2010 1,619 +0.8%
2013 1,080 -33.3%
2014 1,143 +5.8%
2015 1,465 +28.2%
2017 1,278 -12.8%
2018 1,894 +48.2%
2019 2,457 +29.7%
2020 2,437 -0.8%
2021 2,742 +12.5%
2022 2,126 -22.5%
2023 2,141 +0.7%

South Korea compared with similar countries

  • South Korea's 2,141 is above the median for high income countries, which is 263, 8.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
  • South Korea's 2,141 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 302, 7.1× the median. (11 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 1,606 1,606 1,606 1
2010s 1,562 1,080 2,457 7
2020s 2,362 2,126 2,742 4

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 1 Germany 6,134 compare
  2. 2 Japan 3,122 compare
  3. 3 France 2,175 compare
  4. 5 Spain 2,115 compare
  5. 6 South Africa 1,854 compare
  6. 7 Thailand 1,640 compare

See the full ranking of 71 places →

More work & labour data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of labour inspectors in South Korea?
Number of labour inspectors in South Korea was 2,141 in 2023, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest number of labour inspectors recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 2,742 in 2021.
What is the lowest number of labour inspectors recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 1,080 in 2013.
How does South Korea rank for number of labour inspectors?
South Korea ranks 4th out of 71 countries with data for 2023.
Is number of labour inspectors rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 98.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Number of labour inspectors. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Number of labour inspectors in South Korea. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-labour-inspectors/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of labour inspectors
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
71 places, 763 data points, 2008–2024
Last refreshed

Labour inspectors are public officials or other authorities who are responsible for three key labour inspection activities: a) securing the enforcement of the legal provisions relating to conditions of work and the protection of workers while engaged in their work, such as provisions relating to hours, wages, safety, health and welfare, the employment of children and young persons, and other connected matters, in so far as such provisions are enforceable by labour inspectors; b) supplying technical information and advice to employers and workers concerning the most effective means of complying with the legal provisions; c) bringing to the notice of the competent authority defects or abuses not specifically covered by existing legal provisions. Labour inspectors have the authority to initiate processes that may lead to legal action. For more information, refer to the Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSH) database description.