In Korea, diseases, death, and accidents due to overwork have recently increased. This study aimed to examine the association between overwork and worker’s health and to estimate the economic burden of diseases attributable to overwork in Korea for the year 2016 from a societal perspective. This study also tried to identify the problems of current social security systems related to overwork and to suggest the future direction needed to strengthen the safety net. Through a systematic literature review and quantitative analyses, we examined the association between overwork and health status. The annual cost of diseases attributable to overwork was estimated to be between 5 trillion and 7 trillion won. Our results highlight the importance of developing an effective prevention policy for overwork. In addition, active intervention is required to avoid the additional social risk when workers’ health problems are caused by overwork. 

Abstract ················································································································1

Ch. 1. Introduction ·························································································9

  A. Research Background and Purpose ················································································11

  B. Research Content and Methods ················································································15

Ch. 2. Theoretical Discussions and the Literature Review on Overwork and Health ···········19

  A. Definition and Current State of Overwork ·················································································21

  B. Path of Impact of Overwork on Health ··························································31

  C. Literature Review on the Relationship between Overwork and Health ··································36

Ch. 3. Correlations between Overwork and Levels of Health ·······································95

  A. Correlations betweeen Korean Workers' Working Hours and Levels of Health ·····················97

  B. Correlations between Working Hours and Levels of Health in Selected Countries·····································115

Ch. 4. Korea's Economic Burden of Disease due to Overwork ··························127

  A. Estimation Methods for the Economic Burden of Disease ···································································129

  B. Research Findings ····························································································135

  C. Chapter Conclusion ·····································································································148

Ch. 5. Major Social Security Schemes in Response to Overwork and Suggestions for Their Improvement ·····151

  A. Social Safety Net for Overwork-Related Risks ·······························································153

  B. Korea's Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance System and Its Problems ··················································166

  C. Parallel Systems in Selected Countries ··································································199

  D. Suggestions for Regulatory and Institutional Improvement ·················································································223

Ch. 6. Conclusion ·······················································································227

  A. Main Points ·····························································································229

  B. Policy Implications ·············································································232

References ···························································································235