In 2021, about 10.46 million people were employed in micro-enterprises and about 3.98 million in small enterprises in South Korea. SMEs were the largest employer in South Korea, with their workforce accounting for more than 80 percent of the country's total employment.
Number of people employed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea in 2021, by enterprise size
(in millions)
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are for-profit businesses whose total assets do not exceed 500 billion South Korean won and which meet the criterion of independence (not a subsidiary of a large enterprise). Depending on the type of business, companies with average three-year sales of 40 billion South Korean won or less to 150 billion South Korean won or less are defined as SMEs.
Medium-sized enterprises are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are not classified as small enterprises.
Small enterprises are SMEs with three-year average sales of one billion South Korean won or less to 12 billion or less.
Micro enterprises are small enterprises that employ up to four or nine wage and salary workers whose employment contract has a term of three months or more.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
KOSIS. (September 13, 2023). Number of people employed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea in 2021, by enterprise size (in millions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 02, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1333126/south-korea-sme-employment-by-size/
KOSIS. "Number of people employed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea in 2021, by enterprise size (in millions)." Chart. September 13, 2023. Statista. Accessed October 02, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1333126/south-korea-sme-employment-by-size/
KOSIS. (2023). Number of people employed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea in 2021, by enterprise size (in millions). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 02, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1333126/south-korea-sme-employment-by-size/
KOSIS. "Number of People Employed by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (Smes) in South Korea in 2021, by Enterprise Size (in Millions)." Statista, Statista Inc., 13 Sep 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1333126/south-korea-sme-employment-by-size/
KOSIS, Number of people employed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea in 2021, by enterprise size (in millions) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1333126/south-korea-sme-employment-by-size/ (last visited October 02, 2024)
Number of people employed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea in 2021, by enterprise size (in millions) [Graph], KOSIS, September 13, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1333126/south-korea-sme-employment-by-size/