Ministry of Employment and Labor to Check Seongsu-dong Businesses Employing Many Young Workers for Overtime and Allowance Compliance

[Financial News] Labor authorities will inspect whether businesses in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong District, Seoul, that employ many young workers comply with working-hour regulations and pay allowances for overtime. They also plan to check whether businesses that repeatedly use specially authorized overtime comply with approved hours and take measures to protect workers' health.
 The Ministry of Employment and Labor will conduct its 2026 second-half targeted inspection into long working hours at 100 workplaces nationwide, starting on the 3rd. The ministry says it aims to improve unreasonable labor practices, including long working hours and wage arrears, at businesses employing many young workers, and to examine whether businesses that repeatedly use specially authorized overtime are properly implementing measures to protect workers' health.
 The Ministry of Employment and Labor decided to conduct this targeted inspection in response to ongoing concerns at some workplaces about long working hours and so-called “unpaid overtime.” The move also follows issues raised during this year's National Assembly audit, including failure to pay allowances to young workers and overtime exceeding statutory limits.
 The Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to closely inspect businesses employing many young workers for violations of the Labor Standards Act, including work beyond statutory hours and improper all-inclusive wage systems.
 The ministry plans to closely examine compliance with working-hour limits and the proper payment of overtime, night-work and holiday-work allowances, focusing on industries with a high proportion of young employees. In light of concerns raised during this year's National Assembly audit about long working hours and unpaid overtime among young workers in and around Seongsu-dong, Seongdong District, Seoul, it will focus inspections on businesses located in Seongdong District.
 The ministry will conduct joint labor and occupational safety inspections at businesses that repeatedly use specially authorized overtime. It plans to check compliance with the approved hours for such overtime and whether related health-protection measures are being implemented.
 For violations of the Labor Standards Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act identified through inspections, the ministry plans to take measures in accordance with the relevant regulations, including issuing corrective orders, imposing administrative fines and pursuing legal action. It also plans to encourage workplaces to reduce long working hours and create healthy working environments on their own by improving their working-hour management systems and reorganizing their work arrangements.
 Ministry of Employment and Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon said, “It is important to create a working environment where people are fairly compensated for their work and can work healthily while getting enough rest.” He added, “We will work to improve unreasonable labor practices, such as long working hours and unpaid overtime for young workers, and to ensure workers' health and safety.”

[email protected] Kim Jun-hyeok Reporter