Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 18th regarding the Semiconductor Special Act, "It is appropriate to promptly process the parts without disagreement to save the semiconductor industry and the national economy, which are in crisis." This was in relation to the failure of the ruling and opposition parties to reach a consensus on the introduction of an exception to the 52-hour workweek regulation for research personnel during the National Assembly's bill review process, suggesting that the parts where agreement is possible should be handled first.
On the same day, through social media (SNS), Lee said, "The passage of the Semiconductor Special Act in the Industry and Energy Committee subcommittee was blocked due to opposition from the People Power Party," and criticized, "The country's future, which depends on 'industrial competitiveness,' was hindered by the irresponsible stubbornness of saying that nothing can be agreed upon without the '52-hour workweek exception clause.'"
He criticized, "What on earth is the People Power Party thinking? Is it not enough that they have brought the national economy to this state through martial law? Even if the semiconductor industry collapses, are they determined to obstruct whatever the Democratic Party proposes?"
Lee reiterated his previous stance that the issue of the 52-hour workweek exception for research personnel, where there is disagreement between the ruling and opposition parties, should be discussed later. He stated, "Just as growth and distribution are complementary, corporate development and labor rights protection are not mutually exclusive. The '52-hour workweek exception' is a matter of allowing flexible and elastic adjustment of working hours to some extent while maintaining the total labor volume. Misunderstandings between labor and management should be resolved, and answers found through social consensus."
He emphasized, "What is important in the Semiconductor Special Act is the support provisions to save the semiconductor industry facing a crisis," and added, "The ruling and opposition parties have already agreed. It is appropriate to promptly process the parts without disagreement to save the semiconductor industry and the national economy, which are in crisis."
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th. 2025.2.17 Photo by Kim Hyun-min
Lee urged, "I call on the People Power Party, please stop attaching conditions and prioritize processing the Semiconductor Special Act parts where agreement is possible."
He stressed, "In the era of global technological hegemony competition, advanced technology is national power, economic power, and the 'security power' that protects the people," and added, "Let us open the way for change starting with the parts where the ruling and opposition parties can agree, so that we can protect both our industry and the lives of workers together."
The previous day, the National Assembly Industry Committee subcommittee discussed the Semiconductor Special Act but failed to reach an agreement on the bill due to differences over the exception to the 52-hour workweek regulation. The ruling and opposition parties agreed to hold another subcommittee meeting later for further review.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
