South Korea’s 52-Hour Workweek Creates Tension in Global Tech Race
As global tech competition intensifies, South Korea’s 52-hour workweek regulation is creating challenges for deep tech companies racing against international rivals. Industry leaders report the strict limits sometimes hinder R&D momentum while investors weigh the impact on competitiveness.
Global Tech Competition Clashes With Work Hour Regulations
As the deep tech revolution accelerates across semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, South Korean technology companies are grappling with the constraints of the country’s 52-hour workweek limit, according to industry analysis. The regulation, which fully took effect in January 2025 after being gradually implemented since 2018, restricts weekly work to 52 hours including overtime, creating tension between labor protections and global competitiveness demands.
