South Korean Large Firms See 81% Profit Surge with Minimal Workforce Growth
South Korea's largest companies have experienced significant financial growth over the past three years, with an 81% increase in operating profits, according to a report by corporate tracker Leaders Index. Despite this financial success, the workforce of these companies has seen minimal growth, increasing by only 0.2% from 2023 to 2025. The analysis covered 282 of the country's top 500 companies by revenue. Sectors such as automobiles, steel, and transportation expanded their workforces in line with revenue growth, while telecommunications and retail saw workforce reductions despite revenue increases. The electronics and IT sector, driven by companies like Samsung Electronics, showed substantial profit growth but limited employment increases. 
