Loyalty for Sale: 4 in 10 Young Koreans Would Jump Ship for a Raise (Image supported by ChatGPT)
SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — A growing number of young South Korean professionals say they are willing to change jobs solely for a salary increase, underscoring rising dissatisfaction with pay across age groups.
According to a new survey released Thursday by job portal JobKorea, 43.1% of workers in their 20s said they would switch employers unconditionally if offered a higher salary—more than any other age group surveyed. The findings are based on responses from 1,088 salaried employees in their 20s to 40s.
Overall, only 23% of respondents said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their current pay, while 77% expressed dissatisfaction. Among the latter group, 60% said the size of a proposed raise would directly determine whether they stay or leave.
A job fair in Busan, some 325 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is filled with job seekers in this June 27, 2025, file photo. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The average salary increase respondents sought in order to consider switching jobs was 11.8%, with slight variations by age group: 11.1% for those in their 20s, 11.7% for those in their 30s, and 12.3% for workers aged 40 and above.
Interest in compensation transparency is also rising, with 55% of respondents saying they actively reference average salary data for comparable roles when making career decisions. “MZ generation workers, in particular, are increasingly using salary benchmarks as a tool in negotiations and job planning,” said Byun Ji-sung, content marketing lead at JobKorea.
In a separate survey of 457 employees at small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), average annual salaries by experience level were reported as follows: 38 million won ($29,000) for those with less than three years of experience, 44 million won for those with 4–6 years, and 50 million won for workers with 7–9 years.
The findings reflect a broader generational shift toward mobility and compensation-driven career choices in South Korea’s evolving labor market.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
