Yong-seop Lee: "I Definitely Want to Succeed in the Gwangju-type Job Model Together with the Labor Community"

Appeal for Labor Participation in Gwangju-type Job at Press Conference

On the morning of the 2nd, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, announced an appeal from Gwangju City regarding the Korea Federation of Trade Unions' notice to terminate the Gwangju-type job agreement at the briefing room on the 5th floor of City Hall. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, appealed on the 2nd, “To ensure the success of the Gwangju-type job project, Gwangju City will make efforts with a more humble attitude,” and “Please do not ignore the earnest wishes of the entire nation and the expectations and desires of Gwangju citizens for jobs, and we ask the local labor community to join us.”

On the same day, the mayor held a press conference in the city hall briefing room regarding the statement released by the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) that “the Gwangju Regional Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is expected to declare the termination of the Gwangju-type job agreement,” and once again expressed his position to the labor community.

He conveyed his feelings, saying, “We have devoted ourselves wholeheartedly for a long time to make the Gwangju-type job project successful, and we have been trying to open the door to dialogue through countless behind-the-scenes communications with the Gwangju Regional Headquarters of the FKTU, so this is truly bewildering, regrettable, and even disheartening.”

He continued, “Despite difficult conditions, with the active support of the local labor-management-government council and the entire nation, on January 31, 2019, Gwangju City signed an investment agreement with Hyundai Motor Company and established Gwangju Global Motors Co., Ltd. (hereinafter GGM), constructing a domestic automobile factory for the first time in 23 years,” and explained the progress, “Currently, the construction progress rate is 8.1%, which is higher than the target, and the construction is proceeding normally, so there is no expected disruption to the plan to mass-produce finished vehicles by September next year, and recruitment of about 1,000 personnel is also being promoted in stages.”

The mayor lamented, “However, recently, the Gwangju Regional Headquarters of the FKTU announced that it would not participate in the Gwangju-type job project, claiming that the spirit of labor-management coexistence has faded, which has raised deep concerns not only among Gwangju citizens but also nationwide and among GGM shareholders.”

He added, “Gwangju City, as the implementing entity of the Gwangju-type job project and the de facto largest shareholder of GGM, feels very sorry for reaching this situation regardless of the reasons and feels an immense responsibility.”

Mayor Lee stated, “The city has been striving to uphold the principles of the investment agreement and coexistence agreement signed on January 31 last year through long consultations with the local labor community and Hyundai Motor Company based on the spirit of coexistence (▲appropriate wages ▲appropriate working hours ▲communication and transparent management ▲mutual growth and cooperation).”

He also said, “Regarding the various demands cited by the labor community as reasons for terminating the agreement, we have repeatedly conveyed that all demands except those fundamentally violating the contents of the January 31 investment agreement will be accepted,” and “I am inevitably restating Gwangju City’s position on the labor community’s demands.”

Mayor Lee Yong-seop requested again, “Since this project is being promoted to revitalize the regional economy and create jobs, we ask GGM to expand participation of local companies and hire local youth in factory construction and recruitment, and to strengthen communication and cooperation with the local community,” and said, “Please contribute all regional capabilities to ensure the success of the Gwangju-type job project.”

He emphasized, “The investment agreement and coexistence agreement signed on January 31 last year, attended by President Moon Jae-in, with Gwangju City, the local labor community, and Hyundai Motor Company, are promises to the people to make this project a success,” and “Even if there are grievances or disagreements during the process, the implementing parties must resolve issues through ▲mutual respect and trust ▲a sense of mission and responsibility ▲dialogue and compromise.”

Furthermore, he appealed again, “Gwangju City wants to succeed in the Gwangju-type job project together with the local labor community to create jobs for our children,” and “At this time when all citizens are suffering due to COVID-19, we urge the local labor community to pursue the greater good and create new hope for the Korean economy.”

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