How Much Is the Hourly Wage for the Top 5 Election-Related Part-Time Jobs in South Korea?

As the April 10th elections for the 22nd National Assembly approach, interest in election-related part-time jobs is increasing.

Online recruitment posts are being uploaded seeking those with knowledge of election-related part-time jobs, and information on reviews of these jobs is rapidly appearing, indicating a high interest in short-term election-related work.

There’s no better gig than election part-time work for college students who are relatively short on pocket money or those looking for short-term jobs.

It offers the experience of being close to the election process and pays more than other part-time jobs, making it possible to earn a daily wage higher than the minimum wage in a short period. This is considered an advantage of election part-time work.

There isn’t just one type of election-related part-time job; many fields exist, leading to a wide range of hourly wages. Based on the 21st National Assembly elections in 2020, the top 5 election-related part-time jobs were selected.

The highest-paying job is known to be the exit pollster.

Exit pollsters, who participate in predicting election results, ask voters who they choose as they leave the polling station. This method is known for quickly predicting election outcomes.

In 2020, exit pollsters received about $200 for a day’s wage. If the assigned area is far from the worker’s residence, accommodation for the night before the election, when pre-election training is required, is also provided.

Including transportation and meal expenses, a daily wage of $200 is quite enticing.

The second highest-paying job is an election clerk.

These workers assist with polling station management, such as guiding voters, organizing, distributing ballots, and checking IDs. They work for about 12 hours from 6 a.m. until the polls close at 6 p.m. on election day and receive about $120.

Being indoors is unaffected by the weather and physically easier, but contrary to being called an easy job, the monotonous nature and the serious atmosphere can be challenging.

The third highest-paying job is known to be an election campaign worker. These workers, commonly seen around subway stations and election campaign vehicles, greet citizens and chant slogans as part of political campaign activities.

They work for a short period, from one week to two weeks, during the election campaign, usually splitting their time between morning and afternoon shifts.

In 2020, the daily wage, including meals, was known to be around $80. The requirement for a loud voice and shamelessness means this job has a slightly higher barrier to entry than other election-related part-time jobs.

The fourth highest-paying election-related part-time job is the vote-counting observer.

According to Article 181, Paragraph 5 of the Public Official Election Act, these are selected by drawing from those who apply publicly among eligible voters by the district, city, and county election commissions to prevent illegal elections and vote manipulation.

In 2020, they were known to receive about $76 for a day, including a meal allowance of about $13. They monitor the vote counting at the polling and counting stations and can request corrections for any legal violations found.

The fifth highest-paid election-related part-time job is election material packaging.

This is known to be the easiest job among election-related part-time jobs. They simply put posters of candidates from each party and voting instructions into envelopes, attach addresses, and repeat this simple task.

According to experience, meeting the set quota allows for early leave, but caution is needed due to the possibility of omissions. These workers receive about $64 a day, which is relatively low compared to other jobs mentioned.

The second highest daily wage belongs to the vote-counting clerk. They start work after the polls close, opening ballot boxes and checking vote counts.

They work from 5 p.m. on election day until 4-5 a.m. the next day, divided into three parts: ballot box opening, ballot sorter operation, and vote counting. Their daily wage is $120, which is relatively high, but considering the night shift includes a 1.5 times night shift allowance, it cannot be said to have a higher hourly rate than other part-time jobs.

Unfortunately, the fair election support team part-time job is not included in the top 5. These workers visit campaign sites to guide election laws and monitor for illegal activities. The advantage and disadvantage are that they can work for about two months before the election.

This demands a relatively long commitment for those seeking short-term jobs. Their role is to detect illegal activities related to elections, and they are often called a hidden gem of election part-time jobs because such activities are rarely detected.

They receive about $56 a day, which is relatively low compared to other jobs, but since they work for two months, the total monthly pay can be significant.

Other election-related part-time jobs include opinion poll surveys, which are known to pay between $56 and $80 a day. Public opinion survey part-time jobs are conducted similarly to telemarketing, where you enter a prepared site on a laptop, automatically receive a call, ask prepared questions, and record the answers.

Due to COVID-19 during the 20th presidential election, a safety allowance was added, raising the daily wage for election-related part-time jobs. Part-time workers guiding COVID-19-positive and quarantined voters received an additional allowance of $120. This resulted in a windfall of about $216 for a single day’s work. The minimum wage in 2022 was $7.36 per hour.

A daily wage of $216 exceeds twice the minimum wage.

Meanwhile, with the general elections on April 10th just about two weeks away, demand for and competition over these election-related part-time jobs are expected to be fierce. As the popularity of these jobs increases, experts speculate that interest in elections among those in their 20s and 30s will also rise.