Kwon Seong-dong: "Semiconductor Law Excluding 52-Hour Workweek Is Like Serving Pickled Radish with Sweet and Sour Pork"

People Power Party Visits Semiconductor Site
"Urges Passage of Semiconductor Act as Originally Planned Within February"

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, urged the Democratic Party to change its stance, calling the Semiconductor Special Act without the exemption clause for the 52-hour workweek a "desk theory" on the 19th.

On the same day, Kwon visited Telechips, a vehicle semiconductor company located in Pangyo, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, and stated, "I urge bipartisan cooperation from the opposition party to pass the Semiconductor Special Act as originally planned within February."

The Semiconductor Special Act, proposed as the party's official stance by the People Power Party, includes ▲ establishment of infrastructure for power and water supply ▲ tax support and expedited permits ▲ workforce training and R&D support ▲ protection of national core technologies.

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Kwon emphasized, "The core is to nurture talented individuals and create an environment where they can demonstrate their capabilities," adding, "The special provision on working hours is an essential condition for the Semiconductor Special Act to be truly special."

He criticized, "The Democratic Party's insistence on a semiconductor law excluding the 52-hour workweek is a desk theory that ignores the global situation and the field," likening it to "ordering sweet and sour pork but only receiving pickled radish."

Regarding the Democratic Party's claim to be a 'moderate conservative' party, he said, "Who would believe they are moderate conservatives when they talk about exempting the 52-hour workweek but then retract under pressure from the two major labor unions?" and criticized, "Moderate conservatism is realized through actions, not words."

The People Power Party demanded decisive action from the Democratic Party leader to pass the Semiconductor Special Act. Kwon said, "Since they have already reversed their position several times, they may feel ashamed," adding, "If they return to the path for national interest and the people, no one will criticize but applaud. It is time to consider responsibilities for the national interest and the people, not political calculations."

The necessity of the Semiconductor Special Act was also appealed on-site. Lee Jang-gyu, CEO of Telechips, said, "There is a lot of talk about how to win global competition and working hard to win," adding, "It would be good if an environment is created where we can work as much as we want to win the competition."

The National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Business Committee held a bill subcommittee on the 17th to discuss the Semiconductor Special Act but failed to reach a conclusion. The People Power Party demanded a package deal including the exemption clause for the 52-hour workweek, while the Democratic Party insisted on passing only the agreed contents such as tax benefits and subsidies first, failing to narrow the gap.

Accordingly, the National Policy Council meeting scheduled for the 20th is expected to be a turning point. The meeting will be attended by Choi Sang-mok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly, Kwon Young-se, Chairman of the People Power Party Emergency Committee, and Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, to discuss policies in the fields of livelihood and economy.