Kang Soon-hee, New Director of Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, "Establishing Status as a Labor Welfare Hub"

Kang Soon-hee, New Director of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, Begins First Day on the 24th
Emphasizes Expansion of Customized Services in COVID-19 Meeting Instead of Inauguration Ceremony

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] "'Empathy' and 'innovation' are the two management philosophies I will practice. In all value judgments, I will prioritize 'people' and practice people-centered management, and through innovative management, I will establish the status of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service as a hub for labor welfare."

Kang Soon-hee, the newly appointed President of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service (photo), stated in her inauguration speech on the 24th, "I intend to manage the corporation with a warm sensibility that puts people first, while facing reality with cold rationality and making judgments." She also emphasized three management policies: 'customer-centered empathetic management,' 'collaborative responsibility management,' and 'future-oriented innovative management.'

However, considering the COVID-19 situation, President Kang did not hold an inauguration ceremony on that day. This decision was made in light of the ongoing spread of COVID-19 and the elevation of the infectious disease crisis alert to the 'severe' level. Instead of an inauguration ceremony, President Kang held an 'Expanded COVID-19 Response Executive Meeting' to begin her duties. Given the serious situation, she is fully committed to COVID-19 response measures from her first day in office.

At the meeting, President Kang instructed the prompt compensation and medical support for infectious disease-related industrial accident claims by connecting with previous affiliated institutions. She also reviewed the operation status of the corporation’s hospitals and screening clinics, as well as employee protection measures.

With the Daegu Hospital of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service designated as a 'National Infectious Disease Dedicated Hospital,' she urged close cooperation between the public and private sectors to do their best in treating infectious diseases and preventing their spread.

As her inaugural statement, President Kang announced plans to not only strengthen the corporation’s core industrial accident insurance sector but also enhance functions related to industrial accident prevention, medical and rehabilitation services, and significantly expand labor welfare services such as employment insurance, worker livelihood support, and retirement pensions. She aspires to establish the corporation’s status as a leading global social security institution by providing customized labor welfare services tailored to the labor life cycle.

The Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service will lead the establishment of a collaborative system with related organizations such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor and its affiliated agencies, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and plans to jointly host academic conferences domestically with academic societies and research institutions.

President Kang has devoted over 30 years to research and policy development in labor, employment, and labor welfare fields. She has served as Director of the Central Employment Information Service (2003?2006), Labor and Employment Policy Secretary at the Presidential Secretariat (2006?2008), Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Labor Institute (1988?2012), and Professor in the Department of Vocational Studies at Kyonggi University (2012?2020).

Notably, during her tenure at the Korea Labor Institute, she conducted research on wage systems related to industrial accident insurance benefits and served as an evaluation committee member assessing overall employment policies and as a review committee member for new qualifications under the National Competency Standards (NCS), enhancing her understanding of industrial safety and disaster-related duties. As Chairperson of the Policy Advisory Committee for the Construction Workers’ Mutual Aid Association, she contributed to industrial safety, disaster response, medical care, rehabilitation, and labor welfare projects at construction sites.

Additionally, she has been active in central government ministries and committees such as the Tripartite Commission, the Job Committee, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and the Ministry of Education, forming a rich network with the National Assembly, the Blue House, academia, labor and management, and civic organizations.

President Kang told the corporation’s employees, "If my experience, expertise, and extensive network are combined with your outstanding capabilities, we will be able to strengthen our status as a truly leading hub institution for labor welfare."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.