Korea ranks near bottom of OECD for income redistribution

Korea ranked 28th out of 29 OECD member countries with available data for income redistribution through taxes and welfare in 2023. Its improvement rate in the Gini coefficient was 17.6 percent, about half the OECD average of 34.4 percent. Korea’s market-income Gini coefficient was 0.392, while its disposable-income Gini coefficient was 0.323 after taxes, pensions and benefits. A researcher said the results show Korea’s redistribution through taxes and other measures is relatively weak.

Only Costa Rica ranked lower than Korea in OECD income redistribution through taxes and welfare systems, at 12.1 percent.

Korea’s improvement rate in the Gini coefficient was 17.6 percent in 2023, according to an analysis by Yonhap News Agency.

Korea’s market-income Gini coefficient in 2023 was 0.392, the lowest among the 29 OECD countries compared.

Korea’s disposable-income Gini coefficient was 0.323, which placed it 22nd after taxes, pensions and benefits were taken into account.

Kim Kwang-seok of the Institute for Korean Economy and Industry called for stronger government support for low-income households.

Published Sep 20, 2026 10:50 am KST

Korea ranked near the bottom of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries in income redistribution through taxes and welfare systems, latest data showed Sunday.

Korea's improvement rate in the Gini coefficient was 17.6 percent in 2023, the latest year for which OECD data is available, according to an analysis by Yonhap News Agency.

The measure compares the Gini coefficient for market income before taxes with that for disposable income after taxes and transfers.

The figure was about half the OECD average of 34.4 percent, ranking Korea 28th among the 29 OECD member countries with available data. Only Costa Rica ranked lower, at 12.1 percent.

The findings come as the Korean economy has entered an expansionary phase on strong semiconductor exports, while concerns remain that economic polarization could become entrenched.

The Gini coefficient measures income inequality, with zero representing perfect equality and one representing perfect inequality.

Korea's market-income Gini coefficient in 2023 was 0.392, the lowest among the 29 OECD countries compared, indicating the highest level of equality. Its disposable-income Gini coefficient was 0.323, however, leaving the country ranked 22nd after taxes, pensions and benefits were taken into account.

"The results show that Korea's income redistribution through taxes and other measures is relatively weak compared with other OECD countries," said Kim Kwang-seok, a researcher at the Institute for Korean Economy & Industry.

He called for stronger government support for low-income households.

在2023年经合组织29个成员国中，韩国在通过税收和福利进行收入再分配方面排名第28位（数据可查）。其基尼系数改善率为17.6%，约为经合组织平均水平34.4%的一半。韩国的市场收入基尼系数为0.392，扣除税收、养老金和福利后，其可支配收入基尼系数为0.323。一位研究人员表示，结果表明韩国通过税收和其他措施进行的收入再分配相对薄弱。

在经合组织成员国中，通过税收和福利制度进行收入再分配的比例仅为 12.1%，只有哥斯达黎加低于韩国。

据韩联社分析，到 2023 年，韩国的基尼系数改善率为 17.6%。

2023年韩国的市场收入基尼系数为0.392，在所比较的29个经合组织国家中最低。

韩国的可支配收入基尼系数为 0.323，在考虑税收、养老金和福利后，排名第 22 位。

韩国经济产业研究院的金光锡呼吁政府加大对低收入家庭的支持力度。

发布于2026年9月20日上午10:50（韩国标准时间）

最新数据显示，韩国在经济合作与发展组织（OECD）成员国中，通过税收和福利制度进行收入再分配的排名接近垫底。

据韩联社分析，2023年韩国基尼系数改善率为17.6%，这是经合组织可提供数据的最新年份。

该指标将税前市场收入的基尼系数与税后及转移支付后的可支配收入的基尼系数进行比较。

这一数字约为经合组织平均水平34.4%的一半，在29个有可用数据的经合组织成员国中，韩国排名第28位。只有哥斯达黎加的排名更低，为12.1%。

研究结果出炉之际，韩国经济正凭借强劲的半导体出口进入扩张阶段，但人们仍然担心经济两极分化可能会根深蒂固。

基尼系数衡量收入不平等程度，0 代表完全平等，1 代表完全不平等。

2023年韩国的市场收入基尼系数为0.392，在经合组织29个受测国家中最低，表明其收入平等程度最高。然而，其可支配收入基尼系数为0.323，若将税收、养老金和福利考虑在内，则韩国的排名仅为第22位。

“结果表明，与其他经合组织国家相比，韩国通过税收和其他措施进行的收入再分配相对较弱，”韩国经济产业研究院研究员金光锡表示。

他呼吁政府加大对低收入家庭的支持力度。