"77% of Designers Oppose Mandatory Employment Insurance... Policy Needs Reconsideration"

According to the results of the "Survey on the Application of Employment Insurance for Insurance Planners Affiliated with Corporate Insurance Agencies (GA)" submitted by the Korea Insurance Agency Association to Hong Seok-jun, a member of the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee from the People Power Party, 274 out of 1,245 planners (22.0%) supported mandatory enrollment in employment insurance.

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] It has been revealed that 8 out of 10 insurance planners oppose mandatory enrollment in employment insurance.

Although the government is promoting mandatory employment insurance for special employment types such as planners to usher in the "Era of Nationwide Employment Insurance," there are claims that options allowing the individuals to choose should be considered.

According to the results of the "Survey on Employment Insurance Application for Insurance Planners Affiliated with Corporate Insurance Agencies (GA)" submitted by the Korea Insurance Agency Association to Hong Seok-jun, a member of the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee from the People Power Party, among 1,245 planners, 274 (22.0%) supported mandatory employment insurance enrollment.

The remaining 955 (76.7%) opposed mandatory enrollment, of whom 769 (61.8%) answered that choice should be granted.

Additionally, 784 planners (63.0%) expressed concerns that jobs would be threatened due to mandatory employment insurance. It was revealed that they are most anxious about the increase in employer costs leading to reduced employment capacity and deterioration of the business environment.

Furthermore, regarding planners' monthly income, 16.5% earned less than 1.5 million KRW, 21.7% earned between 1.5 and 2.5 million KRW, 20.5% earned between 2.5 and 3.5 million KRW, and 41.3% earned more than 3.5 million KRW.

Assemblyman Hong Seok-jun pointed out, "There is a concern that 16.5% of low-efficiency planners may face mass layoffs due to worsening operational difficulties in the insurance agency industry," adding, "Among approximately 230,000 insurance planners affiliated with insurance agencies, about 38,000, which is 16.5%, could lose their jobs."

He further stated, "The employment insurance policy direction aimed at stabilizing special employment jobs may instead reduce such jobs. Policy reconsideration is necessary to prevent mass layoffs and minimize side effects in the insurance industry."

In particular, in this survey, 992 planners (74.0%) responded that they could reduce their income by adjusting their workload, leading to an analysis that the Ministry of Employment and Labor's plan to recognize income reduction as a condition for benefits may cause moral hazard and worsen employment insurance finances, thereby harming workers and honest subscribers.

Assemblyman Hong emphasized, "Options to grant planners the right to choose should also be considered, and recognizing job changes due to income reduction as a benefit condition could lead to financial deterioration from fraudulent claims and harm insurance consumers. Detailed review is needed, including strengthening benefit conditions and formulating employment policies that consider the characteristics of insurance planners."

Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jae-gap is attending the "Minpyeongryeon Current Issues Meeting - The Meaning and Future of the National Employment Insurance System" discussion held at the National Assembly on the 23rd, delivering a greeting./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

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