Choi Tae-won Visits Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Calls for "Labor-Management Innovation Framework"

Dinner Meeting with Chairman Kim Dong-myeong... Kim "Let's Gather Wisdom"

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, visited the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) to request labor-management cooperation in creating an innovation framework.

On the 10th, Chairman Choi visited the KCTU headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, and had dinner with Kim Dong-myung, Chairman of the KCTU. Earlier this year, at events they both attended, Chairman Kim first proposed the meeting, and Chairman Choi agreed, making the meeting possible. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the KCTU agreed to seek solutions together as labor and management to address the pressing challenges facing our society, such as the climate crisis, industrial transformation, low birthrate, and aging population.

Kim Dong-myeong, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (left), and Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry

In his greeting, Chairman Choi said, "In the traditional framework, the three factors of production are labor, capital, and land, but now labor is increasingly emphasized as intellectual labor that uses the brain rather than physical labor." He added, "If we fail to achieve innovation beyond labor, distinguishing production by labor, capital, and land as in the past framework will no longer significantly impact production possibilities."

He continued, "There is a need for new frameworks and proposals that can innovatively drive social systems where labor and management can create innovation together," emphasizing, "To do this, it is necessary to put our heads together for a considerable time and come up with good proposals."

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (fifth from the left), and Kim Dong-myung, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (sixth from the left), are posing for a commemorative photo.

Chairman Kim also responded, saying, "I believe that the uncertainty felt by companies and the anxiety felt by workers in the face of massive changes in Korean society are not different," and added, "It is essential for workers and companies to unite their strengths and wisdom to adapt to change and overcome crises."

Meanwhile, the two organizations have maintained steady exchanges since a leaders' meeting in September 2017, and Chairman Choi and Chairman Kim have met several times since Chairman Kim attended the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s inauguration ceremony in 2021.