AmCham Hosts HR Workshop: "Labor Reform Must Be Pursued Through Dialogue and Compromise"

Held at Seoul Dragon City Hotel
Discussion on 'Measures to Improve Workplace Performance and Productivity'
James Kim "Closely Cooperate for Labor Improvement"
Kim Moon-soo "Resolve Risks through Advanced Labor-Management Relations"

The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) held an HR (Human Resources) workshop on the morning of the 29th at the Seoul Dragon City Hotel to discuss 'Ways to Improve Workplace Performance, Productivity, Leadership, and Inclusion.'

James Kim, Chairman and CEO of AmCham, is delivering the opening speech at the HR workshop held on the 29th at Seoul Dragon City Hotel. Photo by AmCham

The workshop was attended by numerous stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, including HR managers from global companies. In his opening remarks, James Kim, Chairman and CEO of AMCHAM, stated, "AMCHAM will continue to work closely with various stakeholders in the Korean government and National Assembly to improve the conditions of the Korean labor market." Moon-soo Kim, Chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, also delivered a congratulatory speech, saying, "Outdated regulations and uncertainties hinder the creation of a favorable business environment and cause global companies to hesitate in investing." He emphasized, "If labor reform is successfully promoted through dialogue and compromise, Korea can resolve investment risks by establishing advanced labor-management relations and become a leading global Asia-Pacific regional headquarters."

At the beginning of the workshop, Chang-jun Kwon, Labor Reform Officer of the Labor Policy Office at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, explained the government's three main initiatives under the theme of 'Labor Reform Policy Direction': ▲ establishing labor-management relations based on dialogue and compromise grounded in law and principles ▲ creating jobs through a flexible labor market ▲ improving the dual structure of the labor market and protecting vulnerable workers. Following this, presentations were given by Kim & Chang Law Firm, IBM, and PersolKelly on topics such as 'New Normal Leadership in the Digital Age,' 'How to Utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology as a Productivity Tool in HR,' and 'D&I Implementation Strategies for Organizational Innovation and Productivity Improvement.'

After a short break, Shanker Selvadurai, IBM Asia Pacific Chief Technology Officer, who took the stage, emphasized, "One of IBM's core principles is that AI can never be a decision-maker," adding, "AI exists to augment human capabilities, not to replace humans. AI can make suggestions to managers or employees, but decision-making is always human."

Following this, a roundtable discussion moderated by PersolKelly was held on how companies can effectively respond to 'quiet quitting' and foster a deeper sense of belonging among employees. There was also a panel discussion. The panelists, including the previous presenters, addressed Korea’s unique challenges such as a rigid labor market and aging population, and proposed practical strategies to enhance workplace productivity in the digital age.