South Korea is exploring a 4.5-day workweek as part of a broader effort to reduce working hours while keeping salaries the same. The government backs companies that choose to shorten their employees' work time through its "Work-Life Balance +4.5" initiative. By the end of June, 224 companies had joined the program—more than the initial goal of 220 for the year. Most of these companies have fewer than 50 employees, suggesting that smaller businesses are leading the shift. The initiative has been widely tested in Gyeonggi province, which surrounds the capital city of Seoul and is the most populous region in the country. By the end of 2025, 106 private companies and one public organization in Gyeonggi are expected to take part. Companies can choose different ways to implement the shorter workweek, such as reducing the number of days worked, shortening the workday, or adding extra rest days. On average, employees in the program work about 4.7 hours less per week, which could add up to nearly 240 hours saved annually. Early results from Gyeonggi show some positive outcomes. Productivity among participating employees increased by 2.1%, and the number of job applicants per position rose from 10.3 to 17.7. At the same time, the employee turnover rate dropped from 22.8% to 17.4%. However, not all employees are satisfied—some have reported higher workloads and a slight drop in their sense of professional engagement. One company taking part in the experiment is SNJ, a medical equipment manufacturer based in Seoul. The company is planning to shift to a 36-hour workweek spread over four and a half days. SNJ aims to boost efficiency and reduce production time without lowering employee pay. Workers have said they are using the extra free time for personal activities, like picking up their children earlier or finding time for self-care. South Korea is dealing with challenges such as an aging population and a low birth rate. Officials in Gyeonggi argue that reducing working hours can help balance work and family life, making companies more appealing to potential employees and easing the burden on parents. However, South Korea still has a much longer average workweek than many other developed countries. In 2025, South Korean workers are expected to average about 1,833 hours per year, compared to 1,498 hours in France.