"Train Engineer Appointed as Labor Minister"... Kim Younghoon's Nomination Met with 'Welcomes'

Gwangju Teachers' Union: "Hoping for a Worker Minister to Become the Norm"
Kim Younghoon: "I Will Create a Country Where People Work Happily"

The Gwangju Teachers' Union has expressed a welcoming stance regarding the nomination of Kim Younghoon as Minister of Employment and Labor. The union evaluated the appointment of a former chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, who is also a worker, as Minister of Employment and Labor, stating that "this could mark a turning point in society's perception of labor."

Kim Younghoon, nominee for Minister of Employment and Labor, is greeting a station attendant who came to see him off after boarding the engine room for the ITX Maeum train operation at Gyeongbuk Gimcheon Station on the 23rd. Nominee Kim is a current KORAIL train engineer and former chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. Photo by Yonhap News

In a statement on the 24th, the teachers' union said, "The Yoon Suk-yeol administration has openly disregarded workers and oppressed them with violence," adding, "The news of Kim Younghoon's nomination amid such circumstances is a welcome sign of change." The union further emphasized, "It is only common sense that someone who understands workers' lives best should be responsible for labor policy," and expressed hope that "this will serve as an opportunity to change the mindset of the government and public officials, as well as the social atmosphere that disregards and excludes labor."

The union stated that it teaches in the field of education that "labor unions are fundamental to democracy, and it is only natural for workers to gather to protect their rights." The union especially expressed a desire to change the current reality in which joining a labor union is considered something that requires determination akin to participating in an independence movement, and instead make it as commonplace as "eating a meal or having tea."

The union also stressed that the language of labor policy must change. "The word 'employment' should be removed from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and the original name 'Ministry of Labor' should be restored. The title 'labor inspector' should also be revised to better reflect the nature of the work," the union said, adding, "This is not just a simple change of names, but a symbolic shift that shows how our society respects labor."

The union stated, "We hope this will be the last time a labor union issues a welcoming statement simply because a worker has been appointed as Minister of Labor," and emphasized, "True common sense will take root when such appointments become routine and part of everyday life."

On the previous day, nominee Kim stated on his social media, "I will do my best to create a country where everyone can work happily and where labor is truly respected in Korea." He introduced himself as a "dreaming train engineer," described the situation while operating a train, and added, "I will ensure safe operation until the very end."