The average annual salary of a full-time worker in Korea reached USD 42,300 last year, according to data released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The picture shows people on Oct. 5 crossing the street at downtown Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square. (Yonhap News)

By Xu Aiying and Lee Hana

The average annual income of a full-time worker in Korea reached USD 42,300 last year, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Rep. Yang Kyung-sook of the ruling Democratic Party on Oct. 11 quoted OECD data as saying Korea placed a record-high 19th among 35 OECD member countries in per capita income for a full-time employee adjusted for purchasing power parity.

The previous high for the country in the OECD rankings was 24th in 2003 with USD 32,100.

Last year, Korea's figure was 87% of the OECD average of USD 48,600, up from 75% of USD 42,800 in 2003.

In addition, Korea's amount last year rose 3.6% year on year, double the OECD average of 1.8% and seventh in such growth. 

Rep. Yang said, "The domestic economy has fared well despite the COVID-19 pandemic, but efforts are needed toward income redistribution, reduction of the gender wage gap, improvement of long-term working conditions and a raise in the quality of work for the elderly to suitably match the scale of the economy's high international standing."

xuaiy@korea.kr