Hong Jun-pyo on Yoon's 'Youth Non-Regular Workers' Remark: "I Thought It Was Moon Jae-in... Truly Good Words"

Yoon Discusses Youth Unemployment with Labor Experts

Independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol said, "How can young people get married and have children if they are in irregular jobs?" In response, independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo evaluated on the 13th, "That's a very good statement."

On the same day, Hong posted on his Facebook, saying, "I thought it was something the president said."

He analyzed, "Irregular employment is a labor market phenomenon that appears when labor flexibility is not secured," adding, "Today's Germany under Merkel has repeatedly revitalized manufacturing and economic growth because labor flexibility was secured through labor reforms by Chancellor Schr?der, a left-wing government before Merkel."

He continued, "Labor market policies that do not grant companies, whose primary goal is profit-seeking, the freedom to dismiss employees but only enforce labor rigidity have led to the proliferation of irregular jobs," and criticized, "However, instead of trying to resolve the root cause, if only the strong labor unions are considered and only equality of outcomes is forced on companies, companies have no choice but to produce irregular jobs. Turning their eyes from business management to the real estate rental market ultimately worsens the youth unemployment problem."

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Hong said, "This is exactly the situation in South Korea right now," and pointed out, "Trying to stop the employment crisis solely by increasing the number of public officials is a shortcut to a failed Greece."

He also emphasized, "The solution to the irregular employment problem must be found in curbing the tyranny of strong labor unions and securing labor flexibility," adding, "Only then can South Korea become the country that young people dream of."

Earlier, on the 11th, former Yoon reportedly met with labor expert Professor Jeong Seung-guk of the Department of Social Welfare at Joongang Seungga University to discuss youth job issues. Professor Jeong is a labor expert researching the dual structure of the labor market, including polarization between regular and irregular workers.

On that day, former Yoon spent over four hours at a restaurant in Jongno-gu, Seoul, talking with Professor Jeong about the causes and solutions to youth unemployment and polarization issues. It is reported that they discussed what policies should be planned to solve polarization problems and how to address youth job issues.