Meeting between Lee Jae-myung and Lee Jae-yong... Focus on Discussions Including Semiconductor Special Act

On-site Meeting on Youth Employment on the 20th
AI and Commercial Act Amendment Issues Also Expected

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, will meet with Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the morning of the 20th, Lee will visit the 'Samsung Youth Software Academy' (SSAFY) in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to hold an on-site meeting with Chairman Lee. SSAFY is a program that trains developers who can be immediately deployed in the field through intensive education totaling 1,600 hours over one year, with 8 hours of daily training and collaborative projects.

Lee and Chairman Lee are expected to discuss ways to support young people entering society amid the economic crisis. A separate private meeting is also planned before the on-site discussion.

At this meeting, issues such as the exemption of research and development (R&D) personnel from the 52-hour workweek, included in the 'Semiconductor Special Act,' and support plans for the establishment of the Yongin semiconductor cluster are expected to be discussed. The Semiconductor Special Act is a bill aimed at strengthening semiconductor competitiveness through government infrastructure support and regulatory relaxation. The ruling and opposition parties have shown differences over a special provision that exempts R&D workers from the 52-hour workweek, causing difficulties in passing the law. The semiconductor industry argues that flexible working hours are necessary to secure product competitiveness.

Measures to respond to the 'Commercial Act Amendment,' which was passed by the opposition-led National Assembly plenary session on the 13th, and the industry's increased uncertainty due to the tariff policies of the second Trump administration may also be discussed.

Meanwhile, attendees from the Democratic Party side include Lee Jae-myung, Jin Sung-jun, chairman of the Policy Committee, Cho Seung-rae, chief spokesperson, Lee Hae-sik, secretary to the party leader, and Kim Tae-seon, chief of the party leader’s executive office. From Samsung Electronics, Chairman Lee and executives will be present.