Korea is well known for long work hours. This study examined the effect of not only the total amount of working time but also work schedules on individuals’ subjective well-being in Korea. Drawing on the 2014 Korean Time Use Survey data, the authors selected currently employed people aged 19–65 and examined the effects of total work hours as well as work schedules on feeling rushed, feeling tired, and life satisfaction. Based on the ordered logistic regression analysis, long work hours were negatively related to subjective well-being regardless of work schedules. After adding an interaction between standard and nonstandard work schedules, the study found that while work hours during both standard and nonstandard schedules are associated with declines in psychological status, the negative effect of working time during nonstandard work schedules on subjective well-being is stronger as the work hours during standard schedules decrease.

No abstract

No abstract

Seomin has been used frequently in mass media and political discussion. However, who is Seomin, how to define Seomin, and whether Seomin and middle class are different has been rarely discussed. This study conducted both national level of survey and in-depth interviews and explored how to define Seomin and who respondents think as Seomin. The majority of respondents consider themselves as Seomin and that monthly income is the most important criteria to define Seomin. Seomin was considered as those who have high school education and 200~300(million won) monthly income, live in a rented house, and work as a small-scale self-employer, skilled laborer, and low level of white collar workers. Also, Seomin is a precarious group which can achieve upward or downward mobility and is located between low and middle class. Those who have Seomin identity tend to have pride in their social status and hope for upward mobility rather than depreciate their social status or envy the middle class. In order for Seomin to be able to achieve upward mobility and to maintain pride in current status, diverse social policies are needed. Further analyses on examining characteristics and policy needs of Seomin are needed.■ keyword :|Seomin|Ordinary People|Middle Class|Pride|Definition|Insecurity|

No abstract