Gwangju Metropolitan City had the highest living wage in the country. Gwangju's living wage reached 2.78 million won per month. Seoul, which has the highest home prices and fiscal independence, ranked ninth among the 17 metropolitan local governments with a living wage of 2,533,000 won per month.
A living wage is a wage that guarantees an income level above the minimum wage so that workers in the public sector and their families can enjoy a more humane life. It is a recommendation implemented under each local government ordinance of local governments and offices of education, which requires advance notice of the living wage when concluding public contracts and recommends paying it to affiliated workers.
According to the "Status of the National Living Wage for 2026" fully surveyed by the Federation of Korean Trade Unions on the 28th, Gwangju's 2026 living wage was 13,303 won per hour, the highest among metropolitan governments. It is 2,983 won (28.9%) higher than this year's minimum wage (10,320 won). Next were Gyeonggi (12,552 won), North Jeolla (12,410 won), South Jeolla (12,305 won), and Busan (12,275 won).
Among metropolitan governments, Incheon had the lowest living wage. Incheon's living wage was 12,010 won per hour, which, measured as a monthly salary, was 270,237 won less than Gwangju's.
Meanwhile, out of 260 institutions subject to the living wage, only 132 regions implemented it, or about half. All 17 metropolitan local governments have implemented a living wage, but the implementation rates were low for provincial and metropolitan offices of education (52.9%) and basic local governments (46.9%).