Exchanging Opinions on Labor System Improvements
Dual Approach with Dae-ya Pressure and Livelihood Focus
Securing Public Support Before and After Lee Jae-myung's Verdict
Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, will visit the Korean Federation of Trade Unions (Korean Federation of Trade Unions) in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 19th to hold a meeting with its leadership. Following his visit to the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business the previous day, his visit to the Korean Federation of Trade Unions on this day is interpreted as an effort to highlight the difference from the Democratic Party of Korea, which is focusing all efforts on outdoor rallies, and to secure public support by showing a pro-livelihood approach.
At 11 a.m. on the same day, Han will visit the Korean Federation of Trade Unions in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, to hold a meeting with the union leadership and exchange opinions on institutional improvements. This is the first time since the launch of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration that the ruling party leader has held a meeting with the leadership of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions.
From the party, Kim Sang-hoon, chairman of the Policy Committee, and ruling party lawmakers belonging to the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee will attend, while from the Korean Federation of Trade Unions, Chairman Kim Dong-myeong and other leaders will be present.
At the meeting, Han is expected to exchange views on institutional improvements related to social solidarity legislation such as extending the retirement age, guaranteeing workers’ rights, and applying the Labor Standards Act to workers in workplaces with fewer than five employees, as well as on just industrial transition.
The Korean Federation of Trade Unions is also expected to express opinions on the Yellow Envelope Act, which was nullified by President Yoon’s exercise of the veto power.
After the second meeting of the ruling-opposition-government consultative body on the 17th, Han has been strengthening his pro-livelihood approach by visiting the Korean Federation of Trade Unions on this day, following his visit to the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business the previous day, where he reiterated his promise to bridge the gap between companies.
At the meeting with the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business the previous day, Han listened to 45 policy tasks for small and medium enterprises aimed at bridging the gap between large and small businesses and restoring livelihoods, including revitalizing cooperative joint projects and introducing consultation request rights, improving employment methods for foreign workers, fostering new industries such as Femtech, and restoring the R&D budget for small and medium enterprises.
This is interpreted as a strategy to strengthen pressure on the opposition after the first trial verdict of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, while actively pursuing pro-livelihood measures to recover the declining approval ratings.
At the highest committee meeting held at the National Assembly the previous day, Han emphasized, "I think we should be able to respond by saying, ‘We are taking better care of livelihoods, and we are trying to change and reform in line with the public’s expectations.’ We have said that after November 15 (the date of Lee’s verdict), we must be able to say that, and we must not miss that golden time. It is truly an important time of examination.”
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