๐ How Long Do Korean Office Workers Spend Commuting? [Latest Commute Stats Inside!]
๐ How Long Do Korean Office Workers Spend Commuting? [Latest Commute Stats Inside!]
If you’ve ever worked a 9-to-5 job, you know that commuting is not just a routine—it's a lifestyle.
But just how much time are Korean office workers spending every day commuting to and from work?
The answer might surprise you.
Based on official data from Statistics Korea, this post will break down average commute time, distance, and key regional differences for Korean workers.
Let’s dive into the real numbers behind Korea’s rush hour. ๐
⏰ The Average Commute Time Is 73.9 Minutes
According to the latest 2024 data, Korean workers spend an average of 73.9 minutes per day commuting.
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Men commute longer: 77.7 minutes
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Women: 68.8 minutes
The 30s age group commutes the longest, averaging 76.9 minutes,
while workers aged 60+ have the shortest commute time of just 64.8 minutes.
๐ Regionally, Seoul and the surrounding metro area (capital region) has the longest average commute: 82.0 minutes,
whereas Gangwon Province comes in shortest at 57.7 minutes.
๐ Average Commute Distance Is 17.3km
์ถ์ฒ : ํต๊ณ์ฒญ
Let’s talk about distance, not just time.
The average one-way commute distance across Korea is 17.3km.
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Men travel farther: 19.8km
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Women: 13.9km
The longest distances were recorded in the capital area (Seoul/Gyeonggi/Incheon).
Meanwhile, Jeju Island had the shortest average: just 13.9km.
๐ฅ Interestingly, 40-somethings travel the farthest (18.6km), while workers over 60 average 15.2km.
๐ Time Spent at Work: 9.1 Hours on Average
It’s not just the journey—Koreans also spend long hours at the office.
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Average worksite stay: 9.1 hours
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Men: 9.4 hours
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Women: 8.8 hours
๐ Again, the 30s age group stays the longest, while the 60+ group works the shortest shifts (8.4 hours).
That means men spend about 36 minutes more per day at work than women.
๐️ 4 Out of 10 in Sejong Commute to Other Cities
The city of Sejong has a unique statistic:
39.8% of its residents commute to jobs outside of their city—the highest external commuting rate in Korea.
Other regions with high external commute rates:
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Incheon: 29.1%
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Gyeonggi Province: 23.4%
๐ Even more surprising, 46.9% of male workers in Sejong commute to jobs in other cities.
Popular commuting destinations include:
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Seoul (Gangnam District)
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Cheongju (Chungbuk)
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Jeonju (Jeonbuk)
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Changwon (Gyeongnam)
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Daegu (Dalseo District)
๐ญ Commute Patterns Vary by Industry
Did you know commute stats change drastically depending on industry?
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Construction workers commute the longest: 79.1 minutes
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Agricultural workers commute the shortest: 67.2 minutes
๐ป Commute distances:
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Construction: 22.1km (longest)
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Service industry: 15.9km (shortest)
๐ At-work hours:
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Manufacturing: 9.6 hours (longest)
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Agriculture/Farming: 8.3 hours (shortest)
๐ง Why Commute Time Matters for Quality of Life
If you spend over 70 minutes a day commuting, that adds up to:
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614 hours per year (based on 5-day weeks)
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That’s more than 25 full days just commuting annually!
Commuting time affects everything:
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Work-life balance
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Mental and physical health
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Daily happiness
๐จ Especially for capital-area workers, long commute times can lead to burnout and lower productivity.
This is why remote work, flexible hours, and satellite offices are gaining popularity in Korea.
๐ Final Thoughts: How Long Is Your Commute?
Whether you’re in Korea or elsewhere, commuting is an invisible cost we often overlook.
But for millions of Korean workers, it’s a daily reality that shapes their routine and well-being.
Next time you're stuck in traffic or a packed subway,
remember you're not alone—a whole nation is right there with you ๐
Stay strong, commuters! ๐ช
