'Ruling Party's Top Presidential Candidate' Kim Moon-soo: "I Do Not Support Martial Law... Calling Me a Traitor Before Conviction Is a Human Rights Violation"

Government Interpellation on Education, Society, and Culture
On Discrimination Between Primary and Subcontractors:
"Excessive Gaps and Discrimination Must Be Narrowed"
Application of Labor Standards Act to Workplaces with Fewer Than Five Employees:
"It Can No Longer Be Delayed... An Urgent Task"

Recently, Kim Moon-soo, Minister of Employment and Labor, who is leading the ruling coalition's race for the next presidential candidate, stated on the 14th that although he does not support the December 3 emergency martial law incident, using the term "leader of the rebellion" before a guilty verdict is confirmed in President Yoon Seok-yeol's criminal trial is a violation of human rights.

On the same day, during a government question session on education, society, and culture held at the National Assembly plenary session, Minister Kim responded to a question from Im E-ja of the People Power Party, who asked, "The Democratic Party is making a fuss that you have not apologized for the martial law. What do you think about that?" He replied, "I do not support the martial law."

He continued, "I have never attended a Cabinet meeting to approve it, nor was I called by President Yoon. However, even now, if I had been called and attended, I would have actively said that this martial law should not be implemented and opposed it," adding, "Whether the martial law constitutes rebellion is something the court will decide."

When Rep. Im asked again, "Do you mean the Constitutional Court will decide?" he said, "Not the Constitutional Court, but a judicial court will make the judgment. As far as I know, the Constitutional Court does not handle the rebellion charge," emphasizing, "Calling someone a rebel, leader of a rebellion, or promoting rebellion is a legal crime, so until a guilty verdict is confirmed, I believe using such terms recklessly is a violation of human rights, as stated in our Constitution."

Yonhap News

When Rep. Im asked, "Minister, you were a young labor activist. Do you still have the exceptional ability to empathize with the pain of the weak?" Minister Kim replied, "I was an apprentice at the (Jeon Tae-il's Peace Market). I spent my youth seeing the shantytowns demolished in Cheonggyecheon, the poor, and people with Hansen's disease," adding, "Ignoring that life is a betrayal of my own life and human rights. I believe serving these people is my life's mission."

Despite some loud voices from the opposition, Rep. Im continued, "The subcontractor branch chief at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering works at the same company and asks why some people eat wild ginseng roots while others have to eat the rootless parts. Isn't this a problem that needs to be solved?"

Minister Kim responded, "I share the same view. Although the subcontractor branch chief led intense protests, excessive gaps and inhumane discrimination must be narrowed," adding, "We cannot fix it all at once, but the government, companies, and society all have the responsibility to steadily work to reduce these gaps. This is the first task we must undertake."

Regarding the issue that the Labor Standards Act does not apply to companies with fewer than five employees, he said, "While our Republic of Korea is considered a developed country, it uniquely turns a blind eye to workers in companies with fewer than five employees, offering various reasons that the time is not right yet," adding, "I believe this issue should no longer be delayed. To overcome this, I have appealed to labor union leadership and the government many times." He emphasized, "First, the government's responsibility is the greatest," and "I consider this the most urgent task that the entire leadership of our society must solve together."