Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in South Korea
South Korea: Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) was 738.61 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in South Korea, 2012–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, time-related underemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Korea stood at 738.61.
That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and up 51.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, time-related underemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Korea peaked at 1,062 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 113.38, in 2013.
South Korea ranks 20th of 90 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 116.82 | — |
| 2013 | 113.38 | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 276.2 | +143.6% |
| 2015 | 489.09 | +77.1% |
| 2016 | 498.55 | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 558.53 | +12.0% |
| 2018 | 614.16 | +10.0% |
| 2019 | 735.27 | +19.7% |
| 2020 | 1,062 | +44.4% |
| 2021 | 1,040 | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 812.85 | -21.8% |
| 2023 | 721.04 | -11.3% |
| 2024 | 753 | +4.4% |
| 2025 | 738.61 | -1.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 738.61 is above the median for high income countries, which is 107.25, 6.9× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 738.61 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 175.18, 4.2× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +143.6% | 113.38 | 276.2 |
| 2015 | +77.1% | 276.2 | 489.09 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 425.25 | 113.38 | 735.27 | 8 |
| 2020s | 854.51 | 721.04 | 1,062 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More work & labour data for South Korea
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 16,840 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 63.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 29,824 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 2.96 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 0.78 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 97,052 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 65,686 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 62.02 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 0.9719 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate -0.1065 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is time-related underemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Korea?
- Time-related underemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Korea was 738.61 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest time-related underemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1,062 in 2020.
- What is the lowest time-related underemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 113.38 in 2013.
- How does South Korea rank for time-related underemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- South Korea ranks 20th out of 90 countries with data for 2025.
- Is time-related underemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.0%. 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 Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. Persons in time-related underemployment comprise all persons in employment, who satisfy the following three criteria during the reference period: a) are willing to work additional hours; b) are available to work additional hours i.e., are ready, within a specified subsequent period, to work additional hours, given opportunities for additional work; and c) worked less than a threshold relating to working time i.e., persons whose hours actually worked in all jobs during the reference period were below a threshold, to be chosen according to national circumstances. For details, refer to the Resolution concerning the measurement of underemployment and inadequate employment situations. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.