South Korean Government Establishes Standard Remuneration for Platform Workers' Social Insurance

Key Highlights

• MoEL Notice No. 2025-33 officially establishes monthly standard and average remuneration levels for platform workers in jobs where income is hard to verify.
• This standard is used to calculate industrial accident insurance premiums and compensation under Korea's Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act.
• The move ensures platform workers—often in delivery, ride-hailing, and other gig roles—are formally brought into the social insurance framework.

Context and Implications

South Korea’s decision to codify income standards for platform workers marks an important step toward formalizing protections for a rapidly expanding segment of the workforce. Previously, irregular income made it challenging to apply insurance systems to these workers. By setting official remuneration benchmarks, the government provides a clear and fair basis for premiums and benefits.

For platform operators, this means greater clarity but also stricter obligations to ensure compliance with insurance contributions. For workers, it signals enhanced security, with a stronger safety net in the event of work-related accidents or illnesses. This policy aligns with broader global trends aiming to bring gig economy workers under the umbrella of social security systems.

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