Ruling Party Calls CEO's Son and Young Workers for Meeting... "We Did Not Know" Explanation

One Attendee Confirmed as Son of Small Business Owner
People Power Party Explains "Was Not Aware" Amid Controversy

A controversy has arisen after it was revealed that the son of a small business owner participated in a meeting prepared by the People Power Party, the government, and the Presidential Office, which aimed to listen to the voices of young workers in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The 'Youth Party-Government-Presidential Office' (Youth Dangjeongdae), consisting of the People Power Party's youth leadership, a youth policy officer from the Presidential Office, and a youth advisor from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, held an on-site meeting on the 13th at a cafe in Guro-gu, Seoul, inviting three young SME workers.

This event was planned to hear the voices from the field regarding the recently debated working hours reform, including long working hours and the comprehensive wage system.

However, it was revealed through media reports the next day that one of the three young workers attending the meeting, Mr. Kim, is the son of the CEO of SME company A, which mainly manufactures handbags, wallets, and supplies military goods. Initially, at the meeting, Mr. Kim was introduced as the production management team leader of company A.

At the meeting, Mr. Kim spoke favorably about the government's working hours reform plan. He stated, "Due to the nature of work that requires intensive production within three months after contract signing, extending the maximum weekly working hours to 69 is not necessarily negative," and "Some people on site view the 69-hour limit positively."

On the 13th, Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the People Power Party, speaking at a meeting held at a cafe in Guro-gu, Seoul
[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, he also expressed concerns, saying, "The current 52-hour system is not properly enforced, so I am very worried about what will happen if it becomes 69 hours," and "If it is pushed coercively, I am not sure if labor-management agreements can be reached."

After it was revealed that Mr. Kim is the son of an SME owner, the People Power Party explained on the 14th, "The Ministry of SMEs and Startups arranged participants with the cooperation of the Korea Federation of SMEs, and during that process, they were unaware of this fact."

However, opposition parties raised their voices, saying, "The Presidential Office, government, and ruling party colluded to deceive the public."

Lee Kyung, the standing deputy spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized in a statement, "They disguised the son of an SME owner, who represents the employer's position, as a young worker representative and had him attend," and added, "They misled the public about young workers' opinions on the government's 69-hour workweek by putting forward a fake young worker." He urged, "We must listen to the genuine appeals of young workers."

In response, Jang Ye-chan, the senior youth committee member of the People Power Party who led the event, clarified, "Apart from Mr. Kim, the other two are ordinary young SME workers who have no special relationship with company representatives."

Committee member Jang added, "I hope that the young SME workers who took time out during their lunch break will not be harmed," and "We will strive to conduct more thorough prior checks in the future to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."