Restaurants

Kiosks helping to reduce staff at South Korean restaurants

Photo: Adobe Stock

August 2, 2024

South Korean restaurants that have adopted digital kiosks and tablet ordering systems have seen a significant reduction in staff, according to a government report analyzed by QSR Media Asia.

The number of sales and serving workers decreased by about 11.5% in establishments using kiosks, with temporary workers bearing the brunt of the job cuts.

While the use of kiosks led to longer working hours for remaining staff, tablet ordering systems had a less pronounced impact on employment and working hours. The primary reason cited by restaurants for adopting digital technology was to reduce labor costs.

"The introduction of kiosks also led to an increase in working hours for the remaining staff," a spokesperson from The Korea Employment Information Service told the news outlet.