Lee Jae Myung Announces Support for 4.5-Day Workweek Companies... Forms 'Melting Pot' Election Committee

Announcement of Office Worker Support Pledges on Social Media
Includes Three-Part National Vacation Support Package
Pledges Fundamental Review of Comprehensive Wage System
Election Committee Centered on Yoon Yeo Joon and Park Chan Dae
Encompassing Pro-Roh, Pro-Moon, Non-Lee, and Conservative Factions

Lee Jae Myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced on April 30 a set of pledges to support office workers, including support measures for companies that implement a '4.5-day workweek.' He also pledged to reduce the average working hours to below the OECD average by 2030. His pledges include a three-part national vacation support package, expanding the eligibility for monthly rent tax credits, and extending tax credits for elementary school students attending Taekwondo academies.

In relation to this, the Democratic Party has finalized the lineup for its Central Election Committee, centering on figures such as former Environment Minister Yoon Yeo Joon and Park Chan Dae, acting party leader and floor leader. The committee will be responsible for preparing and implementing Lee's major presidential pledges.

A key feature of the Central Election Committee appointments, as announced by Democratic Party Secretary General Kim Yoon Deok, is the so-called 'melting pot committee.' In reality, the committee has recruited figures from a wide range of factions, including conservatives, pro-Roh Moo Hyun, pro-Moon Jae In, and non-Lee Jae Myung groups.

Former Justice Minister Kang Kum Sil, former Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Jeong Eun Kyung, former Prime Minister Kim Boo Kyum, former South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kyung Soo, and Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Chairman Kim Dong Myung have joined as general co-chairs. The joint campaign committee chairs include Kim Min Seok (Supreme Council member) as chief campaign chair, former Legislation Minister Lee Seok Yeon, former People Power Party lawmaker Lee In Ki, former Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Sang Ho, Democratic Party Supreme Council members Jeon Hyun Hee, Kim Byung Joo, Lee Eon Joo, and Hong Sung Guk, as well as lawmakers Choo Mi Ae, Cho Jung Sik, Park Ji Won, and Chung Dong Young, and former Oceans and Fisheries Minister Kim Young Chun. Lawmaker Lee Hae Sik has been appointed as chief of staff, with lawmakers Kim Tae Sun and Kim Yong Man serving as deputy chiefs of staff 1 and 2, respectively. Lawmaker Kim Young Jin was appointed as Political Affairs Director 1, and lawmaker Park Sung Joon as Political Affairs Director 2. Kwon O Eul, a three-term lawmaker from Andong, North Gyeongsang Province and former member of the Grand National Party (predecessor of the People Power Party), will serve as chair of the National Integration Committee, a committee directly under the candidate. Park Yong Jin, from the non-Lee Jae Myung faction, will lead the People’s Harmony Committee for a Better Society.

Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is wearing a campaign jumper at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 28th. Photo by Kim Hyun Min

At around the same time as the Central Election Committee appointments were announced, the Democratic Party also released Lee's pledges for office workers via his social media accounts. Lee stated, "With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), simple and repetitive tasks will be handled by machines, while people will focus more on creative work and generating added value." He added, "Above all, sufficient rest and recharging are essential to enhance the value of 'people' in this new era."

Lee pledged, "We will establish concrete support measures for companies that introduce a 4.5-day workweek," and added, "In the long term, we must move toward a four-day workweek." He also promised to introduce a daily working hour cap and a minimum rest period system to prevent death from overwork, and to fundamentally review the comprehensive wage system. To support office workers’ recharging, he will introduce a 'three-part national vacation support package,' which consists of worker vacation support, regional vacation support, and short-cut trips.

He also presented various measures to reduce the cost of living, including housing expenses. Lee said, "We will expand the interest subsidy program for jeonse loans (a system where the government covers part of the loan interest), raise the income threshold for monthly rent tax credit eligibility, and significantly expand the range of eligible housing." He also pledged to improve guarantee systems to reduce the burden of jeonse fraud.

He announced plans to expand tax benefits for families raising children. Lee said, "We will seek to increase the credit card deduction rate and deduction limit according to the number of children." He added, "We will also seek to expand the scope of education expense tax credits to include arts and physical education for elementary school children."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is also paying attention to possible changes in the presidential race, such as the rumored 'anti-Lee Jae Myung big tent' alliance involving Lee Nak Yon, senior advisor to the New Future Democratic Party, and Han Duck Soo, acting president and prime minister. A Democratic Party official said, "While Lee Nak Yon's moves were anticipated, rumors of an alliance with People Power Party figures could have some impact on our party's unity."

However, some believe the impact on the presidential election will be limited. A pro-Lee Jae Myung figure said, "Lee Nak Yon's actions are unlikely to expand into a movement that threatens the Democratic Party's identity," and assessed, "Our party's support base is already solid."