Employees at South Korea’s top conglomerates are aging at an alarming rate, according to a report from Leaders Index, a research institute that focuses on corporate analysis. Over the past two years, the number of employees under 30 has fallen by nearly 5%, while those over 50 have surged by almost 10%.

This demographic shift poses a serious threat to South Korea’s chaebol — large family-owned conglomerates that include Samsung, Hyundai, LG and SK Group. As the pool of young workers shrinks, these companies risk losing the innovation and agility needed to maintain their competitive edge in a rapidly evolving global market.