“用黄金作为工龄奖励，成本较两年前几乎增加了近两倍”，韩国多家企业将黄金奖励改成现金

Core Viewpoint - The rising international gold prices have led South Korean pharmaceutical and biotech companies to shift from providing gold as a long-standing employee reward to offering cash bonuses, reflecting a need to manage financial pressures [2][3]. Group 1: Changes in Employee Rewards - GC Holdings, a prominent biopharmaceutical company, has transitioned from awarding gold to cash bonuses for employees with 10, 20, 30, and 40 years of service, now offering 5 million, 10 million, 15 million, and 20 million Korean won respectively [2]. - The company "Understanding Gene" has also made similar adjustments, replacing gold rewards with cash for employees reaching five years of service [2]. - The shift in reward structure is attributed to the significant increase in gold prices, with international gold prices rising from approximately $4,000 to $5,500 per ounce in less than three months [2]. Group 2: Financial Impact of Gold Prices - The purchasing price of gold in South Korea has surpassed 1 million won per "money," nearly doubling since early 2025 when it was 533,000 won [3]. - The depreciation of the Korean won has further exacerbated the cost of gold procurement, increasing the financial burden on companies that provide gold rewards [3]. - A high-ranking executive from a South Korean pharmaceutical company noted that the cost of using gold as a reward has nearly doubled compared to two years ago, prompting companies to consider cash rewards or reducing the weight of gold bars [3].