South Korea reports rise in 'baby bosses' under 18 with high annual incomes

Data released by South Korean lawmaker Moon Jin-suk reveals that 1,909 minors under 18 were registered as business owners between 2021 and 2025, with an average of 382 new registrations annually. Among these, 21 minors earn over 100 million KRW per year, including one child aged 5 or younger. The majority of the top 100 earners are involved in real estate, leasing, and business services, often inheriting properties from family members. Lawmakers are calling for investigations into potential tax evasion, such as disguised gifts or income splitting, as the number of minors reporting rental income continues to grow.