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Busan tops work-life balance index
Busan topped Korea's major metropolitan cities in the 2024 Work-Life Balance Index, highlighting its strong labor environment and emphasis on quality of life. Launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the index is released annually to assess labor conditions and policy performance across the country's 17 metropolitan-level governments.
Published in December, the 2024 report is the most recent edition, with the 2025 results expected later this year. Busan has remained a top performer since the index began, typically ranking between first and third. Following a brief decline in 2023, the city rebounded in 2024, placing first among metropolitan cities and second nationwide.
Busan scored 73 points, up 7.7 points year-on-year, trailing only Jeollanam-do Province. It led the "Work" category, driven by local companies reducing overtime, offering greater flexibility and increasing employee돴s use of annual leave.
These outcomes reflect sustained, citizen-focused policies, with further on-site support and SME-focused initiatives planned for 2026.