First 46 Government-Certified Dispute Resolution Experts Produced in Korea... "Focus on Negotiation Over Litigation"

Central Labor Relations Commission Awards ADR Competency Certificates
Lawyers, Labor Attorneys, and Union Representatives Among Graduates
Focus on Resolution Through Mediation, Arbitration, and Conciliation

The nation's first government-certified expert in labor-management dispute resolution has emerged.

On August 8, the Central Labor Relations Commission announced that it had awarded government-certified "ADR Expert Competency Certificates" to 46 graduates who completed the advanced course of the "ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) Expert Training Program." The commission emphasized that the ADR Expert Competency Certificate awarded on this day is the first government-certified qualification in the field of voluntary dispute resolution, noting its significance in enhancing the credibility of experts and promoting ongoing professional development.

ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) is a method of resolving conflicts autonomously through negotiation-based techniques such as mediation, arbitration, and conciliation, rather than through litigation or adjudication. Since last year, the commission has been implementing a step-by-step ADR expert training program. This advanced course was the first high-level program conducted for trainees who had completed the basic (8 hours online) and intensive (24 hours in-person) courses, producing the first cohort of graduates.

The commission explained that this training program, introduced to strengthen expert-led voluntary dispute resolution capabilities, is drawing attention as a response to the recent rise in labor disputes and declining trust between labor and management, which have put the domestic labor market in crisis.

The program attracted a wide range of professionals from various sectors, including lawyers, labor attorneys, university professors, corporate HR managers, union representatives, and labor commission members. Out of 164 applicants, 50 were selected through document screening and interviews, and 46 of them successfully completed the advanced course.

Chairs of regional labor relations commissions, public interest members, and investigators participated in the practical training, providing hands-on education based on real dispute cases. At the graduation ceremony, five top performers from different regions received certificates of commendation from the chair of the Central Labor Relations Commission. The top honor was awarded to Choi Junhyung, Senior Manager at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, who participated in the practical training at the Busan Regional Labor Relations Commission. One graduate remarked, "I was able to systematize my experience so far and gain confidence through the practical training."

Kim Taegi, Chair of the Central Labor Relations Commission, stated, "Labor disputes cannot be resolved by laws and systems alone; the role of mediation in restoring relationships and trust between people is crucial. Where there is a dispute, there is a solution. I believe the experts produced through this program will play a significant role in the field."