The Ministry of Employment and Labor is launching inspections into long working hours, targeting workplaces in areas such as Seongsu-dong in Seoul, where young workers are concentrated.

The Ministry of Labor announced that it will conduct the "second half of 2026 planned inspection on long working hours" starting today (November 3) across 100 businesses nationwide.

This inspection focuses on long working hours and unpaid wages at businesses employing many young workers, including the information and technology sector, professional, scientific, and technical services, accommodation and food services, and wholesale and retail trade.

The ministry plans to intensively inspect whether these businesses violate the Labor Standards Act, such as through long working hours and unpaid overtime.

It plans to closely examine compliance with working hour limits and the proper payment of overtime, night, and holiday work allowances, focusing on industries with a high proportion of young employees.

In particular, as the issue of long working hours and unpaid overtime among young workers in the Seongsu-dong area was pointed out during this year's National Assembly audit, the ministry plans to prioritize businesses located in Seongdong-gu.

In addition, joint labor and industrial safety inspections will be conducted on businesses that repeatedly use special extended work.

Special extended work is a system that allows employees to work beyond the 52-hour workweek with their consent and the approval of the Minister of Employment and Labor when special circumstances arise for employers. The ministry plans to focus on whether the approved hours for special extended work are being complied with and whether appropriate worker health protection measures are being implemented.

The Ministry of Labor explained that strict measures, including corrective orders, fines, and judicial processing, will be taken in accordance with relevant regulations for any violations of labor standards and occupational safety and health laws identified through the inspections.

Reported by Son Hyeong-an | Video by Jang Yu-jin | Graphics by Lee Sumin | Produced by SBS Digital News