Employees at South Korea’s top 500 companies earned an average 54.99 million Korean won during the first half of this year, up 3.63 million won, or 7.1%, from 51.36 million won a year earlier. The Corporate Data Research Institute CEO Score analyzed 345 companies that could be compared across both periods and published the findings on September 2. Korea Investment Holdings recorded the highest average salary at 184 million won, followed by Meritz Securities at 165.21 million won and Korea Investment & Securities at 162 million won. Securities firms represented 12 of the 20 companies with average salaries above 100 million won, reflecting the industry’s high share of performance-based pay. E-Land World reported the lowest average at 17 million won. By industry, financial holdings led with 113.88 million won, followed by securities at 107.1 million won.