Prime Minister Jeong Holds First Tripartite Meeting... "Please Reach Consensus Quickly"

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and representatives of labor, management, and government are exchanging opinions ahead of the 'Labor-Management-Government Representatives Meeting to Overcome COVID-19' held on the 20th at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Jongno-gu, Seoul. From the left: Kim Yong-gi, Vice Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Jobs; Moon Sung-hyun, Chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council under the President; Kim Dong-myung, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions; Kim Myung-hwan, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions; Prime Minister Chung; Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation; Park Yong-man, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Lee Jae-gap, Minister of Employment and Labor; Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on the 20th at the first tripartite representative meeting formed in 22 years since the 1998 International Monetary Fund (IMF) foreign exchange crisis, "Please engage in discussions with extraordinary determination under the goal of reaching a consensus as quickly as possible."

On the same day, Prime Minister Chung held the 'Tripartite Representative Meeting to Overcome the COVID-19 Crisis' at the Prime Minister's official residence in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, stating, "The positions of labor, management, and government inevitably differ. Please acknowledge these differences from each standpoint and sometimes exercise the virtues of restraint and patience."

Prime Minister Chung emphasized, "The lives of our people are extremely difficult," adding, "We cannot delay or hesitate in the face of the severe employment situation."

Attendees at the meeting included Kim Myung-hwan, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU); Kim Dong-myung, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU); Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation (KEF); Park Yong-man, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI); Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance; and Lee Jae-gap, Minister of Employment and Labor.

Prime Minister Chung expressed concern, saying, "COVID-19 is having a profound impact on our economy and society. The number of employed persons in April decreased by about 480,000 compared to the same month last year, marking the largest decline since 1999 during the foreign exchange crisis. Difficulties are expanding from domestic service industries to export manufacturing."

He continued, "The government is currently making every effort, including preparing a third supplementary budget and having already allocated two supplementary budgets totaling 24 trillion won to stabilize workers' jobs and corporate management. However, the government's efforts alone have limits, and it is absolutely necessary for labor, management, and government to unite with the mindset that they are one body."

Prime Minister Chung also mentioned, "I hope that the results of this temporary tripartite dialogue, conducted under the emergency situation of COVID-19, will serve as a stepping stone for continuous social dialogue involving all labor, management, and government parties in the future."

He added, "I also hope this will be an opportunity to foster a labor-management culture of coexistence and trust and to expand labor-management dialogue across industries and regions."

In conclusion, Prime Minister Chung said, "It is truly meaningful that the three parties of labor, management, and government have met today, but I hope that next time we meet, it will be with the fruit of 'one greater than three.'"

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