[JoongAng Ilbo] "Nuclear Bomb Precedent" Shaking Corporate HR Teams… No Solution in Sight for Ordinary Wages

On January 15, 2025, JoongAng Ilbo reported comments from Lee & Ko attorney Mr. Young-jin Kim of Lee & Ko, regarding the Supreme Court en banc decision on ordinary wages. Mr. Kim stated, "From the corporate perspective, the inclusion of bonuses in ordinary wages has suddenly increased total wage payments this year, making this year’s wage negotiations a pressing issue. Companies may need to negotiate measures such as reducing overtime to cut labor costs or increasing the proportion of performance-based pay, which is excluded from ordinary wages."