President Lee Jae Myung affirmed an unyielding dedication to ensuring workplace safety during his speech commemorating Labor Day at Cheong Wa Dae.
"I will neither compromise nor make concessions on workplace safety," he said, vowing to build a "normal" country where no worker ever has to risk their life at work.
"Safeguarding workers is the most basic responsibility of any nation and any business," he says.
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The president also refuted the idea that employee well-being and business expansion are mutually exclusive, emphasizing that they are, in fact, interdependent.
This occasion represented the inaugural Labor Day celebration hosted at Cheong Wa Dae.
"We can only move forward by breaking free from the outdated thinking that being pro-business means being anti-worker," he said. "Growth has a future only when labor stands behind it" he says.
The gathering convened approximately 130 participants, encompassing prominent representatives from labor, management, and government sectors, alongside workers from various professions, to commemorate the event.
Initially, South Korea recognized May 1 as Labor Day until it was rebranded as "Workers' Day" in 1963. Last year, the government reinstated the original title of Labor Day, and earlier this year, it designated this day as a national holiday, granting all employees the opportunity to have the day off.
Lee emphasized that employees must not be overlooked in the pursuit of productivity enhancements driven by artificial intelligence.
“Growth that leaves behind the majority of the people — workers — cannot be called true growth,” Lee said. “Even if the wave of change is unavoidable, finding a path of coexistence is the way toward a sustainable future for all of us.”
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He further noted that any growth that does not place workers at its core cannot be deemed significant.
Lee, who often emphasizes his early life as a former child laborer, referenced this experience once again during his speech. Lee reiterated his administration's unwavering stance on workplace safety, emphasizing that it "will never make compromises in this area," reaffirming a previous pledge.
Despite a 17.5 percent reduction in fatal workplace accidents during the first quarter compared to the previous year, as per government statistics, Lee recognized the discrepancy between actual progress and public perception.
“We will open a path of coexistence where labor and businesses move forward together,” he said. “A society that respects labor and a country that is good for businesses to operate in can fully coexist.”
The ceremony was the first official event held under the new name of “Labor Day.” The holiday was called “Workers’ Day” until it was renamed last October, ending the use of a term established in 1963.
In a recent social media update, he noted that Korea’s international reputation continues to be undermined. Lee also committed to broadening the range of fundamental labor rights to encompass all employees, including individuals in nonstandard roles, subcontracted positions, platform-based occupations, and freelance work, ensuring that “all workers can benefit from essential labor rights”.
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He concurrently highlighted that enhancing labor protections does not necessarily undermine business competitiveness.
Representatives from the nation's two primary umbrella labor organizations – the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions – were in attendance, signifying the inaugural joint participation at a Labor Day event organized by the Blue House.