[2025 Audit] Minister Kim Younghoon: "Will Review Supplementary Legislation for the Yellow Envelope Act"

National Assembly Audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor Held on the 15th
Minister Kim: "Considering Establishing a Body to Determine Labor Disputes"

On October 15, Kim Younghoon, Minister of Employment and Labor, suggested the possibility of supplementary legislation regarding the Yellow Envelope Act (the amendment to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act).

During the National Assembly’s Climate, Energy, Environment, and Labor Committee’s audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor held that day, Minister Kim expressed his willingness to “review” the matter after it was pointed out that supplementary legislation is needed to unify negotiation channels between original contractors and subcontractors in order to better implement the Yellow Envelope Act, which is scheduled to take effect in March next year.

Assemblyman Yoon Sanghyun of the People Power Party also raised concerns about the ambiguity regarding the subjects of labor disputes. In response, Minister Kim stated, “We are considering establishing a body to determine the scope of labor disputes,” and added, “We will work on preparing guidelines and revising the enforcement decree as necessary.”

Kim Younghoon, Minister of Employment and Labor, is reporting on duties at the National Assembly’s Climate, Energy, Environment, Employment and Labor Committee’s audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor held on the 15th.

Regarding a request from Assemblyman Lee Hakyoung of the Democratic Party of Korea for a special labor inspection and a supervision plan in connection with the worker violence incident at Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan plant in March and April, Minister Kim replied, “We will do so.” He also stated that he would “look into the matter carefully.”

With regard to allegations that Hanwha Ocean engaged in unfair labor practices by supporting a specific union organization at its Geoje plant in South Gyeongsang Province, Minister Kim commented, “I was surprised by the media reports.” He added, “Unfair labor practices fall more under the jurisdiction of criminal investigation rather than labor inspection, so we will review whether an investigation is necessary.”

Minister Kim also responded to a question from Assemblywoman Kim Sohee of the People Power Party, who requested a reinvestigation, citing problems with the special inspection conducted by MBC regarding the late weathercaster Oh Yoanna. He said, “I will review what you have pointed out and report back during the comprehensive audit.”

Regarding the testimony from an acquaintance that Kim Chunghyun, a worker who died after being caught in machinery at the Taean Thermal Power Plant in June, had experienced workplace bullying, Minister Kim stated, “We will conduct another investigation into whether there was workplace bullying.”

Meanwhile, the audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor was disrupted early on due to heated arguments between the ruling and opposition parties over whether to summon a witness in connection with the espionage charges against a former executive of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. Regarding the Supreme Court’s conviction of the executive, Minister Kim stated, “This was a grave mistake.”