Minister of Employment Requests IT Companies like Naver to "Expand Hiring in the Second Half of the Year"

KT·Samsung Announce 43,000 Additional Hires
"Expanding Opportunities for Youth-Preferred 'Quality Jobs'"

Minister of Employment and Labor An Kyung-duk. / Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government called in the CEOs of six major IT companies, including Naver (NAVER), to request an increase in youth new hires in the second half of the year. Right after KT and Samsung announced an additional 43,000 new hires, the government urged companies to increase job opportunities, using the phrase "IT companies that young people want to work for." It was judged that corporate cooperation is necessary to increase the government's goal of 'quality jobs.'

On the 15th, Employment and Labor Minister Ahn Kyung-duk held a 'Major IT Companies CEO Meeting' with the CEOs of Naver, Kakao, Nexon, Netmarble, Smilegate, and NCSoft to exchange opinions on topics such as 'youth workforce development and expansion of job opportunities' and 'creating a workplace culture of mutual respect between labor and management.'

Minister Ahn said, "Major IT companies have become the companies that South Korean youth most want to work for," conveying the government's request for corporate cooperation in providing 'quality jobs,' the government's goal. This was emphasized again to companies to increase youth hiring right after KT and Samsung met with the government and decided to hire an additional 13,000 and 30,000 people, respectively. He said, "Since many young people still face difficulties in finding employment, I hope that when preparing for new hires in the second half of the year, the door of opportunity will be opened wider for our youth."

His remarks align with his request at the end of July to HR and labor executives of 30 large companies to "increase open recruitment." He also added, "We will continue the government's youth job support policies such as the 'Youth Employment Support Project' and the 'K-Digital Training' program."

Companies shared major cases of youth hiring and workplace culture improvement. Lee Jung-heon, CEO of Nexon Korea, announced plans to hire more than 1,000 new and experienced employees by next year. CEO Lee emphasized, "Above all, we are putting great effort into expanding youth jobs." Sung Junho, CEO of Smilegate Holdings, stated, "We are running youth workforce development programs such as server development camps and university student memberships to nurture excellent game developers under the slogan 'Smilegate with the Youth Generation.'"

Additionally, there was a demand for improving workplace culture in IT companies. Earlier, on July 27, the Ministry of Employment and Labor conducted a special labor inspection at Naver and uncovered not only workplace harassment but also wage arrears amounting to 8.7 billion KRW, leading to the referral of CEO Han Seong-sook and Naver to the prosecution. Minister Ahn emphasized, "Public interest and expectations regarding workplace culture have never been higher," urging, "I hope that both labor and management, led by the management, actively cooperate to create a more rational and horizontal organizational culture that employees desire and meet the public's expectations."