Kim Ki-hyun "Illegal protests rampant... People Power Party must lead labor market reform"

Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, is talking with former Minister of Strategy and Finance Park Jae-wan, who appeared as a lecturer at the People Power Party study group 'Innovation 24 New Future' breakfast lecture held at the National Assembly on the 20th. Former Minister Park gave a lecture on the theme of 'Diagnosis and Solutions for the Korean Economy - No Pain, No Gain' during this lecture. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party and one of the next party leadership candidates, raised his voice saying, "The leadership of the People Power Party must become the vanguard of labor market reform."

On the 19th, Kim said through a Facebook post, "The reckless illegal violent protests by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) are rampant."

He pointed out, "It has been four days since KCTU Cargo Solidarity members illegally occupied the rooftop of HiteJinro's Seoul headquarters in a surprise action. They even brought flammable thinner containers, so it does not seem they will voluntarily end the occupation protest," adding, "Other KCTU-affiliated Hyundai Steel members have been occupying the president's office and the factory manager's office for over three months, demanding a special bonus of 4 million won."

He continued, "Throughout the Moon Jae-in administration, public authority stood by passively while siding with the KCTU, so over the past five years, violent and dangerous protests have been repeated as if they were a natural right," emphasizing, "Labor market reform! It is time to take bold first steps, not just slogans."

Kim said, "A control tower is needed to activate the reform plan by drawing consensus among stakeholders and persuading the opposition party," adding, "The People Power Party must be at the center of this, and the party leadership must become the vanguard of this reform."

He added, "President Yoon Suk-yeol also said at his 100-day inauguration press conference that 'the labor law system must also change,'" and said, "Since the president's awareness and direction are clear, we must break through the unfair resistance of the strong aristocratic unions and the large opposition party."

Park Soo-young, a first-term lawmaker from the same party, shared Kim's opinion, saying, "Kim's words are correct," and emphasized, "From a broad perspective, during the first 100 days of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, the foreign security and economic policy lines have been solid, stable, and showing results."

He said, "However, social policies such as education, labor, and welfare are progressing slowly. Education and welfare have yet to appoint ministers, so team building itself is not happening," adding, "At least the Ministry of Labor, which has appointed a minister, should actively organize the aristocratic unions and normalize the labor movement in our country."