Work
lastmod 2025-01-31created 2025-01-312 edits
Labor (勞動, nodong; North Korean standard language (Munhwaŏ): 로동, rodong; English: labor; German: Arbeit) refers to the human resources put into economic activity to create goods, and the human activity that goes with it. It is commonly called one of the three factors of production, along with capital and land. Labor is distinguished from other human activities such as hobbies and leisure in that it is done in return for pay. It includes both physical activity and mental effort.
Nomu (勞務)
It is used in the following two senses.
- Hard work done with physical effort in order to earn wages.
- Administrative affairs related to labor.
The National Institute of Korean Language recommends replacing nomu in the former sense with 힘든 일 (himdeun il, hard work), 근무 (geunmu, duty), 근로 (geullo, work), 노동 (nodong, labor), or 일 (il, work).
Derived words include 노무자 (nomuja, laborer), 노무출자 (nomu chulja, contribution in services), 노무관리 (nomu gwalli, labor management), and 노무배상 (nomu baesang, compensation in labor).
A 공인노무사 (gongin nomusa, certified public labor attorney) is a profession that provides legal and management services related to labor affairs. See the corresponding page for details.
In companies, the department in charge of labor-related work is human resources (인사, insa).