Kim Minseok, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor, stated, "We will strive to ensure that jobs, rights, and growth evolve not as a 'trilemma,' but as a 'dynamic triangular structure.'
On June 9 (local time), Vice Minister Kim made these remarks during his keynote speech at the 113th International Labour Organization (ILO) Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland. The term 'trilemma' refers to a situation where achieving two out of three objectives requires giving up the third. Vice Minister Kim emphasized that the government will actively strengthen policies that can link all three: jobs, rights, and growth.
He said, "The ILO Director-General's report presented the direction we should pursue through 'ensuring policy coherence,' 'strengthening international partnerships,' and 'focusing investment on youth, women, and informal workers.' These points also provide important implications for the Korean labor market."
He continued, "The Korean government, in this era of great transformation, is also actively pursuing policies that can strengthen the connection among jobs, rights, and growth based on democracy, in order to open a sustainable future. Good jobs enable sustainable economic growth, serve as the foundation for guaranteeing rights, and are a key means to enhance social inclusiveness and resilience."
2025 Gender Employment Equality Emphasis Period Ceremony(Seoul=Yonhap News) Kim Minseok, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor, delivers a congratulatory speech at the 2025 Gender Employment Equality Emphasis Period Ceremony held on May 28 at the Seoul Olympic Parktel in Songpa-gu, Seoul. 2025.5.28 [Provided by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Resale and DB prohibited]
Photo by Yonhap News Agency (End)
Vice Minister Kim explained, "To respond to new risk factors such as heat waves caused by climate change, we are strengthening employers' health and safety obligations, providing consulting to small and micro enterprises, and supporting the introduction of smart safety equipment to create safer workplaces. We are also continuously expanding various support measures, such as operating support centers for foreign workers and offering multilingual counseling, to ensure that migrant workers' labor rights are protected without discrimination."
He added, "Korea has the experience of overcoming crises and challenges through social dialogue while strengthening democracy during its economic development process. Building on this experience, we will strive to ensure that jobs, rights, and growth evolve into a 'dynamic triangular structure.'"
Vice Minister Kim concluded, "I hope that through this conference, countries will share their experiences and insights and jointly establish a foundation for sustainable cooperation. As a responsible member of the international community, the Korean government will continue to work to improve workers' working conditions and rights and to strengthen corporate competitiveness, just as we have done so far."
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