Presidential Office: "Labor Market Reforms Including Flexible Working Hours Are Clear Yoon Directives"

Ministry of Employment's '52-Hour Workweek' Policy... Yoon "Not an Official Position" Controversy
Presidential Office "Specific Plans to Be Discussed Through Private Expert Research Group"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is answering questions from reporters as he arrives at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the morning of the 24th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] As controversy continues over the alleged discord between President Yoon Seok-yeol and government ministries regarding the Ministry of Employment and Labor's labor market reform direction, including the revision of the 52-hour workweek system, the presidential office has once again issued a clarification.

In a statement on the 25th, the presidential spokesperson's office explained, "We would like to clarify the intent behind President Yoon's doorstepping (brief press conference) remarks yesterday," adding, "The President's remarks were to clarify that 'the monthly conversion of the 12-hour weekly overtime, which was heavily reported in the morning editions, is not a confirmed government policy.'

They also added, "Labor market reform tasks such as flexible working hours are clear directives from President Yoon, and specific plans will be discussed through a private expert research group."

The spokesperson's office issued this explanation following ongoing controversy over the President's response during a brief press conference on his way to work the previous day.

When asked by reporters about the revision of the 52-hour workweek system on his way to work the previous day, President Yoon said, "It has not yet been announced as the government's official position," and added, "I did not receive a report yesterday, and when I checked the morning news, it was not announced by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The Deputy Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Employment and Labor to review labor market flexibility based on advice from private research groups."

On the 23rd, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced a key policy to maintain the basic framework of the 52-hour workweek system while increasing the overtime work unit, currently limited to 12 hours per week, to 48 hours over four weeks, aiming to respond flexibly to the rapidly changing labor environment. However, President Yoon's statement that this was not an official position raised concerns that coordination between the presidential office and ministries was not properly aligned.

In response, the presidential office also issued a clarification after the President's remarks the previous day. A presidential office official explained, "The Ministry of Employment and Labor's briefing was merely a 'blueprint' similar to a national task implementation plan. Therefore, it was not the 'final labor reform plan,' but some media outlets reported specific cases as if it were the final direction. The President judged that reporters were asking about the 'final revision plan' and responded that 'it is not yet the government's official position.'"