With declining birth rates, an aging population, and the rise of AI-driven automation, redefining work hours is no longer a choice but a necessity. The global trend toward a four-day workweek is gaining momentum, and Korea must ask itself—how long can we continue to ignore this inevitable shift?
🔥 3 Key Points
1️⃣ Many developed nations have already embraced flexible work schedules, with the Netherlands leading the way, averaging 31 working hours per week.
2️⃣ Nobel laureate Paul Krugman has criticized Korea’s long working hours, emphasizing that reducing work time does not harm economic growth.
3️⃣ AI and automation are rapidly changing the job landscape—shouldn’t we adapt our work structures accordingly to ensure both productivity and well-being?
Is It Time to Embrace the Four-Day Workweek? The Inevitable Shift in Work Culture
1. The Growing Global Shift Toward a Four-Day Workweek
Recently, Korea’s opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, sparked discussions on implementing a four-day workweek, echoing a growing global movement. Countries such as the UK, Netherlands, and even Chile have either introduced legislation or conducted trials to transition toward reduced working hours. In the Netherlands, flexible work arrangements have been in place since the 1982 Wassenaar Agreement, with the country’s average workweek now at 31 hours.
What’s significant is that despite these reductions in working hours, there is no evidence suggesting a negative impact on economic growth. Instead, companies adopting shorter workweeks report increased productivity, improved employee well-being, and greater job satisfaction.
2. Breaking the Myth: Does Working Less Harm the Economy?
Historically, concerns over reduced working hours harming economic output have been unfounded. When Korea transitioned from a six-day to a five-day workweek, many predicted disastrous consequences for productivity and exports—none of which materialized.
Renowned economist and Nobel laureate Paul Krugman addressed similar concerns when Korea reduced its maximum weekly working hours from 68 to 52. He pointed out that the U.S. had already adopted a 40-hour workweek in the 1950s and criticized Korea’s excessive work culture, calling it detrimental to work-life balance. He further warned that allowing excessive work hours under the guise of "individual choice" could lead to labor exploitation, suggesting that governments should regulate working hours for the sake of worker rights and well-being.
Critics who claim that Korea is "not yet ready" for a shorter workweek ignore examples like Chile, which introduced a 40-hour workweek in 2023. There is no evidence to suggest that countries implementing a four-day workweek have suffered economic decline.
3. A New Era of Work: AI, Productivity, and Economic Balance
With automation and AI revolutionizing industries, traditional labor models are becoming obsolete. Many jobs once performed by humans are now handled by machines, yet working hours remain unchanged. If companies continue to prioritize production over work-life balance, who will consume the goods and services they produce?
Modern economies increasingly rely on creativity and intellectual labor rather than sheer working hours. A four-day workweek aligns with this shift, allowing workers to be more engaged, innovative, and productive. More importantly, reducing work hours can help address Korea’s pressing demographic crisis. No amount of government incentives can reverse declining birth rates if parents do not have the time to raise children and maintain a healthy family life.
🔍 In Summary
The outdated perception of workers as mere production units must change. Countries worldwide are moving toward shorter workweeks, driven by economic and technological shifts. With Korea facing demographic challenges and rapid automation, implementing a four-day workweek is not just an option—it’s a necessity for sustainable growth and well-being.
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