Gwangju Labor Rights Center Construction Faces 'Collapse' Crisis

Im Miran, Gwangju City Council Member: "City, Practically Giving Up"

Im Mi-ran, Gwangju City Council member.

Concerns have been raised that the construction of the Labor Rights Center, which is being promoted to improve the labor rights of local workers, may be stalled.

Im Miran, a member of the Gwangju City Council (Democratic Party, Nam-gu 2), pointed out during the administrative audit of Gwangju City on the 13th, “The construction of the Labor Rights Center was promoted with the goal of completion in 2022 according to the labor-management-civil-government agreement, but not even the groundbreaking has taken place.”

The Labor Rights Center was planned to be built in the Nam-gu Urban High-tech Industrial Complex with a total project cost of 20 billion KRW (city funds), consisting of one basement floor and four above-ground floors, and was to include a labor rights history exhibition hall, a reference room, educational spaces, and welfare and convenience facilities for workers.

Councilor Im criticized, “Since the project budget was not included in next year’s main budget, it seems the project has been effectively abandoned. Entering a phase of schedule adjustment without any proper measures or future plans is an administration that betrays the trust of citizens.”

She also emphasized, “The Labor Rights Center is essential infrastructure for worker welfare and the promotion of labor rights. It must be constructed before companies move in to create a stable living environment for workers.”