"[Exclusive] Major firms accused of abusing extended working hour exemptions as labour ministry approves without scrutiny", 30 October 2025

South Korean conglomerates, including Hyundai Motor, Kia, and LG Electronics, are reportedly making routine use of the “special extended working hours” provision, effectively overriding the legal 52-hour weekly work limit and subjecting workers to long hours on a regular basis.

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Under the Labour Standards Act and its enforcement regulations, companies may exceptionally exceed the 52-hour cap if authorised by the Minister of Employment and Labour and with the consent of workers, in cases of disasters, emergencies, safety concerns, sudden operational surges, or research and development. However, this system is intended for exceptional circumstances and not regular use.

Contrary to this intent, companies are frequently citing “surges in workload” to apply for these exemptions, and the labour ministry is criticised for broadly granting approvals. […]

According to newly disclosed data, 40% of firms that received approvals did so more than three times a year, with major conglomerates making up a significant portion. Hyundai’s Ulsan plant was authorised for special extended work on 92 days in 2023, 90 days in 2024, and 86 days this year. Its Asan plant also used the system for 78 days in 2023 and 68 days last year. Kia’s Hwaseong plant recorded 30 days in 2023, 24 in 2024, and 16 so far this year. Hyundai engine and transmission line workers are reportedly working six or even seven days a week, totalling 52 to 58 hours.

LG Electronics’ Changwon plant was authorised for special extended hours on 56 days in 2022 and 2023 each, and 84 days in both 2024 and 2025.

Hyundai and Kia cited a “surge in hybrid vehicle demand due to the temporal electric vehicle market slowdown” as the basis for their applications. LG Electronics explained that it was responding to seasonal air-conditioner demand and increased home appliance orders.

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Labour guidelines state that extended workloads must be temporary, urgent, and likely to cause serious disruption or losses if not addressed. However, critics argue that both the ministry and corporations are neglecting this standard, using the exemptions to ramp up production without hiring new workers.

The situation has also raised concerns over the ministry’s flexibility with the annual limit of 90 days. In 2023, the maximum was extended to 150 days for sectors such as shipbuilding, automotive manufacturing, and defence; in 2024, it was again raised for the defence industry.