Son Seunghyun, CEO of Rakuten Symphony Korea, received the Minister of Employment and Labor Award in the Employer (Management) category at the 2025 Labor-Management Culture Merit Awards on December 18. The Labor-Management Culture Merit Award is one of the most prestigious government honors in the field of labor-management relations in Korea. This award is especially significant as it represents official national recognition of Rakuten Symphony Korea's longstanding commitment to fostering a culture of mutual growth between labor and management. The company is regarded as an exemplary case of a business practicing sustainable management and social responsibility.
Since taking office, CEO Son has aimed to build a collaborative and mutually beneficial labor-management culture, implementing open communication and cooperation throughout management and the organization. In particular, the company has been highly regarded for its operation of labor-management harmony programs, improvements to worker-friendly systems, and expanded employee benefits, which have enabled the company to maintain a strike-free labor-management relationship since 2024 and establish a stable organizational culture. These efforts have significantly increased internal trust and have reportedly led to higher employee satisfaction and a stronger sense of belonging.
Rakuten Symphony Korea has pursued various policies to create quality jobs and improve the actual quality of life for its employees. Notably, its internal marriage and childbirth encouragement policies have brought about positive changes within the company, resulting in a tangible increase in the childbirth rate from 2.5% in 2023 to 5% in 2024, and 15% in 2025. Over the past two years, the company has also converted approximately 13% of its non-regular employees to regular positions, enhancing job stability. In the past year alone, about 18% of new hires were women, reflecting the company’s active investment in recruiting, nurturing, and developing female talent, which has also greatly increased the proportion of women in leadership roles.
To ensure a fair and non-discriminatory organizational culture, Rakuten Symphony Korea has gradually implemented competency-based HR systems, equal benefits for non-regular and regular employees, and the conversion of contract workers to regular positions. These policies have improved both job security and fairness, helping to create a healthy working environment that is embraced by both labor and management.
Rakuten Symphony Korea is also contributing to the enhancement of national industrial competitiveness by creating high-value-added jobs in future growth sectors such as advanced AI technology, global business expansion, and partnerships with innovative startups. In particular, the company’s efforts to expand exchanges with global organizations and provide opportunities for participation in overseas projects have played a major role in enhancing the international competitiveness of domestic talent. Furthermore, Rakuten Symphony Korea has been independently driving innovation in Korea, making substantial contributions to the competitiveness of the domestic ICT and maritime sectors, and promoting global talent exchanges, which has drawn even more attention to the company following this award.
The Labor-Management Culture Merit Award, established in 2008, is Korea’s leading honor for management and employees who have demonstrated mutual growth and cooperation in labor-management relations. CEO Son Seunghyun’s award aligns with the national policy direction of fostering a win-win labor-management culture and demonstrates that Rakuten Symphony Korea is establishing itself as a company that fulfills its social responsibilities.
Regarding the award, CEO Son stated, "This honor is the result of the collective efforts of all Rakuten Symphony Korea members. We believe that a healthy labor-management culture based on mutual respect and trust enhances corporate competitiveness, and we will continue to do our best to create a workplace where every member is respected and can grow."
Rakuten Symphony Korea is the Korean subsidiary of Rakuten Symphony, the global communications technology organization of Rakuten Group. The company supports the planning, development, operation, and improvement of various internet-based global services, primarily through its Internet Services division.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
