A Day That Never Really Ends: How 66% of Korean Workers' Unpaid Labor Is Fueling the 'Right to Disconnect' Legislation Debate
Two out of three Korean workers report receiving work-related contacts after hours or on days off. With 80.5% in favor of a ban, the National Assembly is debating legislation to restrict off-hours workplace communication.
Six in ten Korean workers can't truly clock out. 66% reported receiving work-related contacts from their employer outside of work hours in the past year — and 30% of those contacts came after 10 PM. The very meaning of "leaving work" is being called into question.
TL;DR
- 66% of workers have received work-related contacts after hours or on days off (survey by Workplace Gapjil 119, n=1,000)
- 30.8% reported receiving contacts after 10 PM
- 80.5% of all respondents support legislation banning off-hours work contacts
- International precedents: France, Ireland, and others have already enacted the "Right to Disconnect" into law
- South Korea's National Assembly is debating a bill to restrict off-hours contacts, but it has stalled amid pushback from business groups
The Facts: What Happened
Civil advocacy group Workplace Gapjil 119 commissioned polling firm Global Research to survey 1,000 employed adults aged 19 and over nationwide. The results were released on February 22.
Key figures are as follows:
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Received work contacts after hours or on days off | 66% |
| Performed work outside the office after being contacted | 30.5% |
| Did not respond to the contact | 8.9% |
| Received contacts after 10 PM | 30.8% |
| Support for legislation banning off-hours contacts | 80.5% |
The most common contact frequency was 1–3 times per month (21.2%), followed by 1–2 times per week (20.6%), 1–10 times per year (18.6%), and 3 or more times per week (5.6%).
Attorney Jeong So-yeon of Workplace Gapjil 119 stressed: "We are seeing more and more workers suffering from fatigue due to being reachable at all hours. Legislative protection is urgently needed."
Why This Issue Is Gaining Momentum Now
The proliferation of smartphones and messaging apps has blurred the line between work hours and personal time. With KakaoTalk, Slack, text messages, and phone calls all available simultaneously, ignoring a message has become practically impossible.
Key factors driving the issue:
- Unpaid labor problem: Workers are effectively performing job duties after hours with no additional compensation
- Mental health implications: Directly linked to increased rates of burnout, sleep disorders, and anxiety
- Generational shift in values: The growing MZ generation (Millennials and Gen Z) increasingly treats work-life balance as a core criterion for choosing an employer
- International spotlight: Renewed attention on legislative precedents from France (2017), Ireland (2021), and others
Background: What Is the "Right to Disconnect"?
The Right to Disconnect is a legal guarantee that workers have the right not to respond to work-related digital communications outside of working hours.
- France (2017): Mandatory for companies with 50+ employees. Workers and employers jointly negotiate "digital detox" standards
- Ireland (2021): Employers are required to formalize a written policy on off-hours contact
- Belgium (2022): Starting with the public sector, employees have the right to refuse to receive contacts at night or on weekends
In South Korea, related bills have been introduced multiple times since 2022, but have failed to pass the plenary session amid business opposition citing "interference with operational flexibility" and concerns about "abuse of exception clauses." As of 2026, legislative debate has been reignited in the post-21st Assembly period.
Outlook: Can Legislation Pass?
The overwhelming 80.5% public support revealed in this survey could serve as legislative momentum. However, real-world barriers remain significant.
Scenarios where legislation could pass
- Priority application to the public sector and large corporations → gradual expansion
- Agreement-first approach (labor-management autonomous negotiation) over penalties
Barriers
- Startups and SMEs: "We can't respond to emergencies"
- Difficulty defining clear working hours (especially with the rise of remote and hybrid work)
- Penalty levels and proof of violation remain undefined
Reference Links
- Yonhap News: 66% of workers receive work contacts after hours or on days off
- Chosun Biz: 66% of workers receive work contacts after hours or on holidays
- SBS Biz: 2 in 3 workers get work contacts after hours; 80% say it should be banned by law
Image Credits
- Cover image: Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain / Smartphone notification image)