4 in 10 workers in Korea lack paid Labor Day leave

Nearly four out of 10 workers in Korea are not guaranteed paid leave on Labor Day, highlighting persistent blind spots in labor rights, particularly among non-full time workers. According to a poll commissioned by civic group Workplace Gabjil 119 and conducted by Global Research from Feb. 2 to 8, 35.2 percent of 1,000 surveyed employees said they are not ensured paid leave on May 1. The disparity becomes more pronounced across employment types. Among day laborers, who are employed on a daily basis, 60 percent reported not receiving paid leave. The figure was similarly high for freelancers at 59.3 percent, part-time workers at 57 percent and dispatched or outsourced workers at 40 percent. In contrast, only 16.5 percent of employees at large corporations reported the same issue, indicating significantly stronger protections for those in more stable, formal employment. Labor Day was designated as a paid holiday in Korea in 1994. However, due to varying interpretations of the Labor Standards Act, certain groups such as public officials, teachers and delivery workers were classified as "speci