Chairman Park Yong-man Reaffirms Win-Win with Korean Federation of Trade Unions: "Let's Overcome Difficult Times Together"

Park Yong-man, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (fourth from the left), and Kim Dong-myung, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (center), are having a hop meeting at a chicken restaurant in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 20th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) reaffirmed their commitment to overcoming difficulties through mutual cooperation.

According to business circles on the 21st, Chairman Park met with Kim Dongmyeong, Chairman of the FKTU, the previous afternoon and said, "During difficult times, let us overcome hardships together through mutual cooperation."

Chairman Park visited the FKTU at the Trade Union Hall in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul that afternoon to meet Chairman Kim. This meeting was a return visit following Chairman Kim’s visit to the KCCI in February this year.

Chairman Kim Dongmyeong said, "After taking office in February, I visited the KCCI as my first destination, and I am very grateful that you have not forgotten and came to visit me," adding, "The spread and prolongation of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have worsened the economy, and the crisis and suffering experienced by workers are quite severe."

Chairman Park said, "Since you first visited the KCCI, the return visit was delayed due to COVID-19," and added, "The time to meet was delayed because these are difficult times."

Chairman Park said, "Our society has too much confrontation and conflict, and it is very difficult to maintain principles while engaging in dialogue rather than taking a hardline stance," and he responded, "Everyone is going through hard times, but the more difficult it is, the more we must embrace the idea of mutual cooperation and overcome hardships together."

Afterwards, Chairman Park and Chairman Kim sat facing each other at the same table in a nearby pub close to the FKTU building and had an informal conversation while drinking beer. The snacks served were French fries and chicken.

Chairman Park proposed a toast with the phrase "Dialogue over confrontation," and Chairman Kim proposed a toast meaning not to be defeated by COVID-19, saying, "The bottle may fall, but the drinker will not."

The KCCI and the FKTU have maintained steady exchanges despite confrontations between the business and labor sectors. Former FKTU Chairman Kim Jooyoung was the first FKTU chairman to visit the KCCI in September 2017. The following month, Chairman Park became the first KCCI chairman to visit the FKTU headquarters, and they held a pub meeting on the same day. In September last year, former Chairman Kim returned the visit to the KCCI building and held another pub meeting.

A KCCI official said, "While sharing concerns about the difficult economic situation including COVID-19, the atmosphere at the pub meeting was continuously warm and friendly," adding, "Through steady exchanges with the FKTU, it was a moment to pledge to join forces and overcome the current crisis well."