Kim Younghoon, Minister of Employment Nominee: "Will Legislate Equal Pay for Equal Work"

Kim Younghoon, nominee for Minister of Employment and Labor, stated on July 16, "I will legislate equal pay for work of equal value."

In his opening remarks at the personnel hearing held by the Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly on this day, Kim said, "The government will establish a foundation for autonomous negotiations between labor and management through the wage distribution disclosure system." He added that he would also consider providing support to small and medium-sized enterprises that comply well with labor laws, comparable to the welfare benefits enjoyed by large corporations, through a so-called 'Happy Workplace Certification System.'

Kim emphasized, "Article 32 of the Constitution stipulates that all citizens have the right to work," and said, "I believe that the goal of the employment and labor policies of the Lee Jaemyung administration is to create a country where everyone can work happily." He further stressed, "If given the opportunity to serve as minister, I will do my utmost to guarantee the people's right to work."

He explained, "The government will strive to become a guide for youth employment so that young people who do not even have the right to work do not become discouraged and can dream about their future." He added, "We will implement various policies so that young people who are prospective workers can start their first jobs with excitement." He also said, "To ensure that technological changes such as artificial intelligence (AI) do not lead to labor exclusion, we will expand job opportunities for 9.5 million baby boomers," and, "We will make sure their valuable experience continues as a social asset."

Employment and Labor Minister Nominee Kim Younghoon Responding to Questions

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Ryu Youngseok = On July 16, 2025, Kim Younghoon, nominee for the Minister of Employment and Labor, is answering questions from lawmakers at the Personnel Hearing held by the Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul.

Photo by Ryu Youngseok

ondol@yna.co.kr (End)

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He also emphasized the guarantee of rights in the workplace. Kim stated, "To this end, we will focus all administrative resources on eradicating industrial accidents so that workers can return to their families and society just as they left for work." He continued, "In particular, we will strictly enforce a zero-tolerance policy regarding backward accidents such as repeated falls, entrapments, and collapses, as well as accidents caused by discrimination." He plans to establish an integrated safety and health management system for both primary contractors and subcontractors to prevent serious industrial accidents among subcontracted workers.

In addition, Kim asserted, "We will work in cooperation with the National Tax Service and other relevant ministries to eradicate intentional and habitual wage arrears by business owners," and, "We will make sure that people are not discriminated against while doing similar work. Even if a world without non-regular workers does not come immediately, at the very least, there should be no discrimination in clothing, food, or rest."

He also expressed support for the so-called Yellow Envelope Act, which is the amendment to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act. Kim said, "I am well aware that there are many concerns among businesses about the so-called Yellow Envelope Act," but added, "The Yellow Envelope Act is a law to promote dialogue, not to make dialogue itself illegal, and I believe it is a law to break the vicious cycle of astronomical damages and extreme labor disputes, as well as a law to close gaps."

Kim also pledged to establish a preemptive response system in the event of signs of regional employment crises, to resolve job mismatches between regions, and to build infrastructure so that both people and jobs can be sustained.

Kim emphasized, "I joined the Busan Regional Railroad Office as an assistant train driver in 1992 and became a member of the National Railroad Workers' Union, and I have lived as a railroad worker for 33 years." He added, "I will do my best to create good jobs where people can work with respect and without unreasonable discrimination in safe workplaces."