President Lee meets South Korea’s two major labor unions over mega projects

President Lee Jae-myung sat down with the leaders of South Korea’s two major labor unions and urged them to help advance the government’s three “mega projects”: semiconductors, artificial intelligence data centers and physical AI.

Lee told Kim Dong-myung of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and Yang Kyung-soo of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions that the projects were nationally important. Their successful implementation, he said, was essential for future generations and for strengthening the country’s competitiveness, according to a written briefing by presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.

The union leaders responded that close communication and active labor participation would be needed for the projects to succeed. They also said labor-related disputes surrounding the proposed Special Act on Mega Special Zones should be addressed through social dialogue involving both employers and workers.

Labor groups have opposed reported plans to ease labor regulations under the bill, including exempting research and development workers from the 52-hour weekly limit and extending the permitted employment period for fixed-term workers.

The leaders also discussed extending the retirement age. They agreed that legislation considered over the past year by a parliamentary special committee should produce a result before the end of the year, following detailed deliberation that reflects the interests of various groups. Lee welcomed the start of discussions on the Democratic Labor Union Confederation’s return to social dialogue and called for both unions to participate fully in finding solutions to national challenges, including labor’s transition to AI and K-shaped inequality.

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The national importance of the mega projects and their successful implementation are essential for future generations and for strengthening national competitiveness.