Prime Minister Chung Expresses "Deep Regret" to Minnocho... States Position on Failure of Tripartite Labor-Management-Government Agreement (Comprehensive)

Reconsideration of Convening the Minnochoong Delegate Conference

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is delivering opening remarks at the Government Policy Coordination Meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] "The tripartite agreement ceremony could not be held due to the absence of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU). We deeply regret the KCTU, which disappointed the other representatives participating in the dialogue and the public."

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun made this statement during his opening remarks at the Government Seoul Office's National Affairs Inspection and Coordination Meeting on the morning of the 2nd. This was the first official comment regarding the cancellation of the 'Tripartite Dialogue Agreement Ceremony,' which was scheduled to be held at 10:30 a.m. the previous day at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Seoul, due to internal conflicts within the KCTU over the tentative tripartite agreement.

The tentative agreement was reached after about 20 rounds of discussions, including 14 at the working-level and 5 at the deputy representative level, following the formation of a tripartite representatives meeting led by Prime Minister Chung on the 20th of last month to overcome the COVID-19 crisis. However, criticism from the labor sector grew louder as the agreement did not include a clause banning layoffs, which was seen as a significant setback, and ultimately the KCTU did not approve it. Internal opposition led to severe turmoil, including the temporary confinement of KCTU Chairman Kim Myung-hwan in the KCTU Central Executive Committee meeting room.

The unprecedented tripartite agreement involving all parties to overcome the COVID-19 crisis has been indefinitely stalled. Expectations were high as this was the first major tripartite compromise in 22 years since the 'Social Agreement for Overcoming the Economic Crisis' agreed upon during the 1998 IMF foreign exchange crisis, but a swift resolution seems unlikely unless differences within the KCTU are resolved.

In response, Prime Minister Chung expressed regret to the KCTU and emphasized, "Dialogue based on social trust is important in itself, and the spirit of this agreement must be respected." This is interpreted as urging the KCTU to participate in the tripartite agreement reached by all parties.

Additionally, Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, targeted hardliners within the KCTU, calling their stance "excessive." At a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, he said, "It is very regrettable and unfortunate that the tripartite grand compromise failed," and added, "The hardliners in the KCTU find it difficult to take even one step forward, yet they want to take ten steps at once, which is excessive."

The KCTU plans to continue its meeting on the same day to decide whether to ratify the tentative tripartite agreement. The KCTU announced the previous afternoon that it intends to convene an extraordinary delegate meeting to seek approval for the 'Tripartite Agreement for Overcoming COVID-19.'

In a statement, the KCTU said, "At the 11th Central Executive Committee meeting, we intended to obtain organizational consent on the final draft and participate in the tripartite representatives meeting, but it could not be convened," and added, "Chairman Kim believes that this tripartite representatives meeting was initiated at the request of the KCTU and that there is a need to convene an extraordinary delegate meeting soon for the many vulnerable workers suffering from the COVID-19 crisis."

The KCTU plans to address related discussions again at the 11th Central Executive Committee meeting convened in the afternoon. Chairman Kim is also expected to consider his position depending on the outcome of the delegate meeting. On the same afternoon, Chairman Kim was transported to a hospital in Seoul due to a sudden deterioration in his health.

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