"No decisions made yet regarding the interview"
The Presidential Office expressed deep regret on the 1st over the failure to amend the law to postpone the expansion of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act to workplaces with fewer than 50 employees, due to the refusal by the Democratic Party of Korea.
A Presidential Office official said to reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the same day, "We need to observe the National Assembly discussions until the end," adding, "However, it is very regrettable that the Democratic Party ultimately ignored the government's and ruling party's plea for a postponement, which was made considering the difficulties and urgent circumstances of small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners."
The ruling party and government agreed to accept the Democratic Party's demand to establish the 'Occupational Safety and Health Agency' in order to postpone the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which was expanded to workplaces with fewer than 50 employees, for two more years, but the Democratic Party rejected the proposal.
Earlier that morning, the Presidential Office stated, "The government will maintain a flexible and adaptable stance to resolve the difficulties faced by small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners," and "We earnestly ask the opposition party to cooperate, considering the hardships on the ground."
Meanwhile, regarding reports that President Yoon Seok-yeol is considering interviews with specific media outlets such as KBS before the Lunar New Year holiday, a Presidential Office official said, "Nothing has been decided yet regarding the interviews."
President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the "Eighth Public Discussion on Livelihoods with the People - Medical Reform to Save Lives and Communities" held at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the 1st. [Image source=Yonhap News]
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