Gyeonggi Province Opens 'The 2025 International Labour Festa' at KINTEX
First-Ever Joint Hosting by Local Government, ILO, and Ministry of Employment and Labor
Participants from 50 Countries Worldwide... Lively Debates on AI, Social Mobility, and Work-Life Balance
Governor Kim Dongyeon: "Addressing Opportunity Inequality with a Four-and-a-Half-Day Workweek and Opportunity Income"
This marks the first time in Korea that a local government has jointly hosted a large-scale international labor event with both an international organization and the central government.
Kim Dongyeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, is delivering a greeting at 'The 2025 GG-ILO-MOEL International Labour Festa' held on the 16th at KINTEX Exhibition Hall 2 in Goyang. Provided by Gyeonggi Province
On December 16, Gyeonggi Province, together with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, kicked off "The 2025 GG-ILO-MOEL International Labour Festa" at KINTEX Exhibition Hall 2 in Goyang, sharing concerns about technological advancement and the future of jobs with the world.
In his opening remarks, Governor Kim Dongyeon presented Gyeonggi Province's vision for responding to the changes in labor brought about by rapid technological advancements such as artificial intelligence.
Governor Kim explained the significance of the event, stating, "Major transformations such as the climate crisis, digital transition, and platform economy are shaking not only jobs but also the very meaning of labor. This is why we must contemplate the 'future of work' beyond labor itself."
He went on to introduce Gyeonggi Province’s policies aimed at preventing inequality of opportunity from leading to inequality in life, including the Youth Opportunity Package, Opportunity Income, a four-and-a-half-day workweek without wage cuts, and Fair Allowance for Non-Regular Workers.
Governor Kim Dongyeon emphasized, "Gyeonggi Province will fulfill its duty as the primary partner of the people’s sovereign government. Based on our experience and execution in advancing policies that previous administrations reversed, we will work together with the new government to vigorously open an era of respect for labor and the future of work. We will do our utmost to make 'decent jobs' and 'jobs for human dignity' the new normal and common sense."
Held under the slogan "Youth, Local Governments, and the Future of Work," the event was attended by Governor Kim Dongyeon, Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Younghoon, ILO Director of Employment Policy Lee Sangheon, as well as key figures from international organizations such as the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE). Over 500 participants, including Kim Dongmyeong, President of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, Yang Kyungsoo, President of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, representatives from domestic and international labor and business circles, and the Youth 100 delegation invited from 50 countries around the world, pledged solidarity and cooperation for the future of work.
Gyeonggi Province is hosting the '2025 GG-ILO-MOEL International Labour Festa' held on the 16th at KINTEX Exhibition Hall 2 in Goyang. Provided by Gyeonggi Province
In a video message, ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo said, "The insights, partnerships, and solutions you create through this Festa will drive our global mission for youth employment in the years to come."
As keynote speaker, Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Younghoon outlined the government's policy direction, including expanding job opportunities for youth and strengthening fundamental labor rights in the workplace. He stated, "The Government of the Republic of Korea, together with Gyeonggi Province and the ILO, will steadfastly pursue labor policies that support jobs where young people are respected and can grow, labor markets where opportunities can be found in a changing environment, and sustainable development."
The core program of this Festa, the "Dialogue with Youth 100" session, introduced a new format for directly hearing the voices of global youth.
Governor Kim Dongyeon, Minister Kim Younghoon, Director Lee Sangheon, and two other representatives of labor, management, and government took the stage with the Youth 100 delegation to hold a data-driven, on-the-spot discussion on sensitive and practical topics such as social mobility, work-life balance versus high wages, and the replacement of jobs by AI. Notably, data collected from youth participants in advance was visualized and presented on site, allowing global leaders to propose solutions, which was met with enthusiastic response from attendees.
The event is divided into "Policy Day" on December 16 and "Dialogue Day" on December 17.
On the first day, following the opening ceremony, an international labor forum was held on the themes of "Decent Jobs and the Role of Local Governments" and "The Digital Economy and Local Governments." Officials from overseas local governments, such as Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom and Brandenburg in Germany, participated as presenters, sharing examples of labor policies from their respective countries.
Kim Dongyeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, is presiding over "The 2025 GG-ILO-MOEL International Labour Festa" held on the 16th at the 2nd Exhibition Hall of KINTEX in Goyang. Provided by Gyeonggi Province
On December 17, the "3rd International Youth Employment Forum" will take place. In-depth discussions will be held on innovation for inclusive employment and youth labor rights, culminating in the announcement of the "Call to Action for Youth Employment," a youth-drafted action plan based on the outcomes of these discussions, as the finale of the event.
Gyeonggi Province hopes that this Festa will not remain a one-off event, but will serve as the starting point for a "new normal" where the proposals of youth are reflected in the policies of the ILO and governments around the world.
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