Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Labour Market of the Republic of Korea and Employment Trends

The Republic of Korea, having become one of the first participants in the fight against coronavirus, stands out from other countries with its success in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and limiting its economic consequences. Based on the mistakes of previous experience in dealing with the health crisis caused by the MERS coronavirus outbreak in 2015, the country's government has taken various measures to ensure stability. And although the Republic of Korea is considered one of the countries that has most successfully recovered from the shock, the coronavirus pandemic has hit the labor market hard, provoking serious changes in the organization of work, employment structure, demand for labor, and led to changes in the labor market as a whole. The relevance of the topic of this work is due to the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused global changes in the structure of the labor market, where significant changes have been recorded in employment sectors, unemployment rates, labor demand and supply, requiring detailed analysis. The purpose of the work is to analyze changes in the labor market of the Republic of Korea and employment trends in the country. The object of the study is the labor market of the Republic of Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the subject is changes in the labor market caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study comprehensively analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Korean labor market, identifying major changes in employment patterns and the impact on various economic sectors and social groups based on gender, age, sector of employment and professional activity, and analyzing the government. policies and measures to support the labor market. It also identifies trends in demand for labor and professional skills, as well as the impact of digitalization on employment. The first chapter reveals the theoretical foundations of the labor market, the concept of employment and unemployment, studies approaches to the study of the labor market, as well as the role of the state in the functioning of the labor market. The second chapter analyzes changes in the labor market in Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic, examines government measures to support employment in Korea and the response of companies. Chapter three examines changing demand for labor and skills, and the impact of digitalization on employment. The main findings of the study are that the impact of the pandemic varied depending on the type of employment, socio-demographic characteristics, profession, etc. Irregular workers, women and youth were among the most vulnerable in the labor market. Social distancing measures aimed at preventing the spread of the virus have proven ambivalent. On the one hand, they were necessary for the health of society, on the other, sectors that depend on personal communication, such as retail and wholesale trade, hotels and restaurants, and tourism, faced significant difficulties. Inequality in the labor market caused by its polarization has become increasingly noticeable. The COVID-19 pandemic has also provided a powerful push to rethink traditional approaches to work and employment in South Korea. Thus, COVID-19 has revealed weaknesses in the labor market, the pandemic has become a lesson for all countries, including the Republic of Korea, about the need to create more flexible and sustainable economic and social systems. Key words: COVID-19 pandemic, labor market, employment, unemployment, employment trends, support policy.