Some matchmaking managers earn over W18m a month — more than workers making W100m a year

Some couple managers at matchmaking firms took home more than 18 million won ($12,700) in a single month, according to new data.

Gayeon, a marriage information company, analyzed the July earnings of its couple managers and found that the top earner received 18.62 million won in monthly take-home pay.

The second-highest earner took home 14.35 million won, followed by 13.62 million won and 12.65 million won — meaning all four of the top earners cleared 10 million won in a single month.

Those ranked fifth through eighth earned between 9 million won and 10 million won, while the ninth- and tenth-place earners received 8.96 million won and 8.91 million won, respectively, just shy of the 9 million won mark.

The average monthly take-home pay among managers with at least one year of experience came to about 7.5 million won, well above the average monthly wage at large conglomerates, which stands at 6.13 million won before tax.

While a direct comparison has its limits, the top earners' monthly take-home pay exceeds what a worker with an annual salary of 100 million won actually receives each month. According to the National Tax Service's 2026 simplified income tax withholding table, an employee earning 100 million won a year takes home roughly 6.53 million won per month — or about 78.37 million won annually — after deducting national insurance contributions and income tax.

The figures were similarly strong in June. The top earner that month took home more than 20.55 million won, and the average among the top 10 reached the 10 million won range. The average for those with at least one year of experience also came to around 7.18 million won.

Couple managers at marriage information companies handle member consultations and enrollment, assess clients' views on marriage and their ideal partner, and match them with suitable candidates. Because the role requires sustained communication with members throughout the matching process, earnings are shaped not only by counseling skills but also by sales ability and interpersonal communication.

However, the figures are drawn solely from Gayeon's own staff and cannot be taken as representative of the matchmaking industry as a whole. The wide income variation inherent in a performance-driven role is also a factor to keep in mind.

Meanwhile, a report released in February by the Ministry of Statistics on wage-earner income found that average monthly pay at large conglomerates reached 6.13 million won before tax in 2024, up 3.3 percent, or 200,000 won, from a year earlier. Over the same period, workers at small and medium-sized enterprises averaged 3.07 million won per month, a 3.0 percent increase of 90,000 won — 3.06 million won less than their counterparts at large firms. The income gap between large-conglomerate and small and medium-sized enterprise workers widened to its largest level on record, surpassing the 3.05 million won gap recorded in 2022.