The Savior for Solving the Employment Crisis... Who is An Kyung-duk? (Update)

Major in Labor-Management Relations and Labor Policy... Former Government Official, Also Expected in Industrial Safety and Employment Policy

Ahn Kyung-duk, nominee for Minister of Employment and Labor. (Photo by Ministry of Employment and Labor)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Amid the sluggish recovery of South Korea's employment market, Ahn Kyung-duk, Standing Member of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, was nominated as the Minister of Employment and Labor on the 16th. He is widely regarded as a wise figure to handle the employment crisis, being an expert in mediating labor-management conflicts and having extensive experience in key government positions.

Ahn, originally from Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, graduated from Chuncheon High School and the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. He entered public service by passing the 33rd Administrative Examination. He has held various positions at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, including Head of the Labor-Management Relations Adjustment Team, Director of the Foreign Workforce Policy Division, International Cooperation Officer, Director-General of the Occupational Accident Prevention and Compensation Policy Bureau, Head of the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office, Director of Labor Policy, and Director of Planning and Coordination. In September 2019, he was appointed as a Standing Member of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, a presidential advisory body for social dialogue.

He is recognized as an expert in labor-management relations and labor policy. He also has a career that includes key roles within the Ministry of Employment and Labor. He is expected to lead efforts such as establishing flexible work systems, gradually expanding the job-based wage system, and negotiating compromises related to minimum wage levels. Revitalizing the employment market is also a critical task.

Last July, he played a leading role in the Economic, Social and Labor Council's signing of a tripartite agreement to overcome the COVID-19 crisis. Although the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), which participated in the tripartite dialogue at the time, ultimately did not join due to failure to secure internal approval for the agreement, the Council preserved the tripartite consensus through the signing of the agreement.

The Korea Employers Federation (KEF) stated regarding Ahn's nomination, "He is the right person to stabilize labor-management relations and enhance cooperation between labor and management," and added, "We look forward to him effectively addressing pressing issues such as severe youth employment and industrial safety problems based on a balanced sense of labor-management relations."

The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) also highly evaluated Ahn's efforts in social dialogue and urged, "We hope he becomes a Minister of Employment and Labor who will strive until the end to realize a labor-respecting society, a national agenda of the Moon Jae-in administration."

If Ahn is appointed minister, he will be the fifth minister to be promoted from within the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Past ministers such as Yoo Yong-tae, Lee Chae-pil, Lee Ki-kwon, and Lee Jae-gap were also selected from internal ranks.

▲ Born 1963 ▲ Chuncheon High School, Gangwon ▲ Department of Political Science and Diplomacy, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies ▲ 33rd Administrative Examination ▲ Head of Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office, Ministry of Employment and Labor ▲ Director of Labor Policy, Ministry of Employment and Labor ▲ Director of Planning and Coordination, Ministry of Employment and Labor ▲ Standing Member, Economic, Social and Labor Council

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