工時長、出生率低
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), South Korea has one of the longest workweeks in the developed countries, with people spending 300 more hours at work than in the US on average.
根據經濟合作暨發展組織（OECD），在已開發國家中，南韓為最長工時的國家之一，一般而言相較於美國，南韓人民一年在工作上多花了300個小時；
organization(n.)組織economic(adj.)經濟的cooperation(n.)合作、配合development(n.)發展workweek(n.)一週內花在工作上的日子或小時developed(adj.)已開發的average(n.)平均、平均數
Also, it has one of the lowest birth rates in the world.
另外，它也是全世界最低出生率的國家之一。
rate(n.)率、比率
In the hope of stopping chronic overwork and achieving a greater work-life balance, South Korea has introduced a new rule – maximum 52-hour workweek.
期望停止慢性超時工作並達到更好的工作與生活間的平衡，南韓已推行一項新規則—每週最多52小時的工時。
hope(n.)希望、期望chronic(adj.)慢性的overwork(n.)工作過度achieve(v.)達到、實現balance(n.)平衡introduce(v.)引進、採用、推行maximum(adj.)最多的
Employees will be allowed to work 40 regular hours and 12 hours overtime.
員工將被允許固定工作40小時，以及12小時的加班。
allow(v.)允許regular(adj.)固定的overtime(adv.)加班地
This new rule has been put in effect on July 1st, whereas companies will be given a six-month grace period to make the change.
這項新規則已於7月1日生效，但公司將被給予六個月的寬限期來實行此更動。
put(v.)使處於某種狀態effect(n.)實行、生效in effect生效whereas(conj.)但是、儘管grace(n.)寬限期、延緩期period(n.)一段期間
Companies that break this new rule could be fined up to $17,815 and its executives could be put in prison for 2 years.
違反此項新規則的公司可能被罰款高達17,815美元，並且領導階層者可能會入獄兩年。
break(v.)違反、違背fine(v.)處以罰款executive(n.)領導階層prison(n.)監獄
“We will thoroughly monitor whether companies implement the lower working hours in the right manner based on the recent survey results,” said a government labor official.
一位政府勞工官員說：「我們會根據最近的調查結果，徹底監督公司是否以正確方式實施此規則。」
thoroughly(adv.)徹底地、仔細地monitor(v.)監控、密切注意whether(conj.)是否implement(v.)實施、貫徹manner(n.)方式、方法recent(adj.)最近的、近來的survey(n.)調查result(n.)結果government(n.)政府labor(n.)勞動、勞工official(n.)官員