Ministry of Employment and Labor Lee Jung Sik will co-host a Foreign Media Policy Forum with the Korean
Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) at 16:00 on November 29 at the KOCIS Multi-purpose Hall of the
Korea Press Center.
At the forum, the Ministry will present the government’s major labor and employment polices―prevention
of serious accidents at workplaces, employment policies including women and foreign workforce, and labor
market reform.
Minister Lee said, “The government will make all-out efforts to build a labor market that works for everyone
including workers and employers, and all generations.” He also emphasized, “The government will overhaul
old and unreasonable regulations and establish laws and regulations which meet global standards, making
the labor market more attractive to investors.”
Minister’s Opening Remarks
Good afternoon, everyone. It is a great pleasure to see you all. I am Minister of Employment and Labor Lee
Jung Sik.
I am very pleased to have this forum with foreign correspondents, who act as a window on the world.
I want to thank President Choi Jae Woong of Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club and all of you here for
taking your time, and I also want to thank Director Kim Jangho and other members of the Korean Culture
and Information Service for organizing this meaningful event.
Distinguished foreign correspondents,
The world is facing multiple crises. With the pandemic still ongoing, internal and external uncertainties
including the food and energy crises caused by the international situation and supply chain instability as
well as the three high phenomenon of exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices are posing a
threat to prosperity and growth.
Amid the unprecedented transformation driven by low growth, population aging, decarbonization as well as
digital competition, crises often hit the most vulnerable hardest, which exacerbates poverty, inequality, and
conflict, making it more difficult to achieve sustainable growth.
It is the government’s job to provide strong protection for the disadvantaged, which leads to growth
benefiting everyone in a virtuous circle.
Whenever there was a crisis, Korea rose to the occasion, taking itself to the next level. The foreign media
has highly appreciated this potential, and predicts that Korea will turn these new waves of change into
another opportunity to grow and prepare for the future.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor will make all-out efforts to build a labor market that works for
everyone including workers and employers, and all generations.
The government will overhaul old and unreasonable regulations and establish laws and regulations which
meet global standards, making the labor market more attractive to investors.
The Ministry will proactively prepare the country for industrial transitions by revitalizing private sector job
growth.
We will remove labor market obstacles to ensure that young people join the labor force earlier, the
elderly work longer, and women continue to work without career breaks.
For foreign workers, the government will open up more job opportunities in Korea and ensure that they are
respected in a safe workplace.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor will incorporate protecting the lives and safety of anyone who works
in Korea into every work we do.
The Ministry‘s goal is to make sure that Korea becomes a safe country on par with other OECD member
countries in five years, and we will spare no effort for safety by strengthening the accident prevention
system, providing targeted support for accident-prone sectors, and spreading a safety culture.
Distinguished foreign correspondents,
It took us quite a long time to meet each other, and I hope that you will feel free to give advice on the
major policies of the Ministry, which will soon be presented today.
I look forward to your insights on where the Korean government should be headed. Thank you.