韩国企业扩大减肥药、宠物假等员工福利以争夺人才

Employee benefits have become as important as pay in South Korea's job market, and companies are rolling out increasingly unconventional perks to attract and retain talent.
Some 94% of millennial and Gen Z office workers said benefits influence their choice of employer when changing jobs, according to a survey by job portal Saramin released on the 5th. Respondents cited work-life balance support (45.2%) and self-development support (28.7%) as the benefits they value most. As benefits emerge as a key factor in hiring and retention, competition among companies to offer distinctive perks is intensifying.
Pearl Abyss (263750) offers one of the most striking examples. The game developer recently launched a program that provides employees with 200,000 won a month toward prescriptions for the obesity drugs Mounjaro and Wegovy. Employees who meet the body mass index threshold required for a formal prescription can obtain one at the company's in-house clinic.
Because the two drugs are not covered by national health insurance when prescribed for weight loss, patients pay between 250,000 won and 420,000 won a month. The company will cover a substantial share of that cost. The measure reflects the fact that 656 of its 1,035 employees, or 63.4%, work in development roles that require long hours of sitting.
Pearl Abyss went further last year, introducing a monthly cleaning subsidy of up to 200,000 won for employees living alone and pet insurance support of up to 500,000 won a month for as many as three animals per person. It also installed an unstaffed laundry room on site that operates around the clock. The idea is to cut the time employees spend on household chores so they can focus on work.
Some companies pay allowances to employees' parents. Zipdoc, an interior design brokerage platform, sends 100,000 won a month directly to the parents of its staff, extending family benefits beyond employees to their parents' generation.
Pet-related benefits are also expanding quickly as more people treat animals as family members. Lotte Department Store and eco-friendly cosmetics brand Lush have introduced bereavement leave for pets. Pet commerce firm PetFriends covers funeral costs for pets, while Harim Pet Food offers adoption leave and a cash bonus, and allows employees to bring their animals to the office.
Benefits aimed at removing everyday inconveniences are drawing attention as well. Fintech company Toss runs an in-house hair salon staffed by a professional stylist, providing haircuts, basic perms and scalp treatments free of charge. The aim is to spare employees a separate trip to a salon after work.
A growing number of employers view benefits as a strategic investment rather than a cost. In one case analyzed by a benefits platform, a company that spent 250 million won on benefits saw savings of nearly 200 million won through lower turnover and reduced absenteeism. Industry watchers say benefits are becoming a management tool for raising productivity and retention, not merely a way to improve compensation.