Politics · South Korea · 2 hrs ago
South Korean freelance workers call for mandatory standard contracts
A survey covered 973 nonstandard workers in South Korea across 10 occupations, including delivery drivers, care workers and webtoon creators.
95.4% backed mandatory standard contracts, the most popular support measure among those surveyed.
The survey also found that 67.3% had done unpaid extra work, while 57.1% reported verbal abuse or insults.
When facing unfair treatment or disputes, 57.2% said they usually put up with it rather than respond.
Many workers also face financial insecurity: 86.7% said illness could cause financial problems, and 86.9% said they pay their own medical costs after an injury.
At a workshop in Seoul, participants called for standard contracts and clear pay rates; the survey organizers said the findings show workers' economic dependence on platforms or employers.
A survey of 973 freelance and platform workers in South Korea found that 95.4% supported making standard contracts mandatory.
The survey covered 10 occupations, including delivery workers, care workers, webtoon creators and home-visit inspectors.
Unpaid extra work was reported by 67.3% of respondents, while 57.1% said they had experienced verbal abuse or insults.
More than half, 57.2%, said they put up with unfair treatment or disputes rather than taking action.
The findings were presented at a workshop in Seoul on November 14 by the Umanitwo Foundation and the Korea Center for Non-Regular Workers.
- Who
- The Umanitwo Foundation and the Korea Center for Non-Regular Workers conducted the survey. It covered 973 workers in 10 occupations.
- What
- The survey found strong support for mandatory standard contracts and documented reports of unpaid extra work and verbal abuse.
- When
- The findings were presented on November 14, 2026.
- Where
- The findings were presented at the Seoul Welfare Foundation in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
- Why
- The survey examined working conditions and support needs among workers in occupations described as outside the protections of the Labor Standards Act.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
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- Survey respondents
- 973 workers across 10 occupations
- Mandatory standard contracts
- 95.4% supported
- Unpaid extra work
- 67.3% reported it
- Verbal abuse or insults
- 57.1% reported them
- Response to unfair treatment
- 57.2% said they put up with it
- Findings presented
- November 14, 2026, in Mapo-gu, Seoul
1 source
What people are saying
Make a table of appropriate rates available. Make standard contracts mandatory.
There are various problems, including discrimination against older drivers and women drivers using algorithms.