Yoon Seok-yeol: "I heard there are people willing to work for less than the minimum wage"

Controversy Over 'Abolishing the 52-Hour Workweek' Remarks: "It's Not About Getting Rid of It"
"I've Heard Complaints About Minimum Wage... Will Listen to Opinions and Decide"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is giving a greeting at a meeting with businesspeople held at the Northern Chungnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seobuk-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungnam, on the afternoon of the 1st. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, clarified that he did not advocate for the "abolition of the 52-hour workweek." However, he reiterated the need for flexible operation of the 52-hour workweek and minimum wage system to alleviate difficulties faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

On the 1st, Yoon expressed this position at a meeting with businesspeople held at the Chungnam Northern Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seobuk-gu, Cheonan, Chungnam.

Yoon said, "There were comments that the 52-hour workweek, the Serious Accident Punishment Act, and the Chemical Substances Control Act cause many difficulties for SMEs," adding, "In particular, I heard requests to allow flexibility over several months even if the 52-hour limit is not exceeded, rather than rigidly enforcing the 52-hour workweek."

Regarding the controversial remarks about the 52-hour workweek, he explained, "It was reported as if I said I would abolish the 52-hour workweek," and clarified, "(Businesspeople) asked to prevent rigid weekly operation. I meant that if I become the next government, I will reflect the voices from the field well."

Earlier, Yoon visited Clever, a secondary battery equipment manufacturing company in Cheongju, Chungbuk, and said, "I heard that the minimum wage system and the 52-hour workweek are unrealistic and cause significant difficulties in business operations, especially for those who need to work creatively rather than in simple functional roles at SMEs," adding, "I will work to abolish unrealistic systems." This statement drew criticism from political circles, with voices accusing Yoon of intending to "turn South Korea into a labor hell."

In response, Yoon said on the same day that he did not advocate for abolishing the 52-hour workweek but explained that flexible operation of the minimum wage system and the 52-hour workweek is necessary.

Yoon said, "Our country, along with Turkey, implements weekly holiday pay, so the effective minimum wage is much higher than the set minimum wage," adding, "Considering company welfare and lunch provisions, companies could hire more if the minimum wage were not rigid. I also heard that due to the minimum wage, companies cannot properly hire, and even those willing to work under lower conditions end up unable to work, causing significant manpower supply issues."

He added, "I said that I would listen carefully to the opinions of the industry on site before making decisions on this matter."