Kim Moon-soo "On air, 'It's been 52 hours, time to rest'? ... Flexibility is needed"

Kim Moon-soo, chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, emphasized the necessity of the system in relation to the government's revision of the 52-hour workweek system to allow up to 69 hours of work per week, saying, "If you strictly check whether the '52-hour workweek is being followed,' almost all companies will be subject to punishment."

On the 8th, Chairman Kim said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' "For example, during the World Cup or Olympics at broadcasting companies, those involved in broadcasting cannot just say, 'I've reached 52 hours, so I'll take a break from the broadcast and come back,' and quit in the middle," emphasizing this point.

Kim Moon-soo, Chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, is being interviewed on the 30th at the Economic, Social and Labor Council in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The existing 52-hour workweek system deems working more than 52 hours per week illegal, but there are many occupations, such as broadcasting, where work is concentrated during specific periods, making it difficult to apply the rule uniformly. Chairman Kim said, "There are many industries where applying the 52-hour workweek is very difficult. The research sector is like that, and in the legal field, trials are continuously held, so it is impossible to say, 'I have 52 hours' without preparation," adding, "Therefore, the intention is to provide flexibility by industry, not to extend working hours."

The opposition and labor groups have raised critical voices, calling it a "policy that encourages overwork-related deaths." Chairman Kim responded, "Criticism is possible," but he rebutted with examples, saying, "Lawyers also have trials, and if they say they will leave after 52 hours during an important trial, is that really possible? Especially in seasonal industries like ice cream manufacturing, aren't there many such cases?"

Although the concept is to "work intensively and take vacations intensively," there are criticisms that many companies do not even allow proper use of existing vacation days, making it unrealistic. Chairman Kim said, "It won't happen immediately, but efforts must be made so that workers can use their vacation days, and supervision must be strengthened," adding, "Labor supervision at workplaces should be further strengthened to receive reports on where it is not being done properly, and bosses must also change."