Hanwha Defense Division and Busan Bank Receive 'Korea Labor-Management Cooperation Award'

KCCI Hosts the 34th Korea Labor-Management Cooperation Awards Ceremony

Chairman Son Kyung-sik of the Korea Employers Federation./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] Hanwha Defense Division, Busan Bank, and Sempio Foods have received the Korea Labor-Management Cooperation Award. Now in its 34th year, the Korea Labor-Management Cooperation Award annually selects and honors companies that have overcome crises and achieved growth and development through labor-management collaboration.

The Korea Employers Federation (KEF) held the '34th Korea Labor-Management Cooperation Award' ceremony on the 17th at the Chosun Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul. At the ceremony, KEF Chairman Kyung-sik Son and Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Chairman Dong-myung Kim attended as presenters, while Minister of Employment and Labor Jeong-sik Lee and Chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council Seong-hyun Moon joined to congratulate and encourage the labor and management representatives of the award-winning companies.

This year, the grand prize in the large enterprise category was awarded to 'Hanwha Defense Division' and 'Busan Bank,' while the grand prize in the mid-sized and small enterprise category went to 'Sempio Foods.' The excellence awards were given to 'Husung' and 'MH&Co,' with a total of five companies honored.

Hanwha Defense Division has maintained 35 years of no labor disputes based on a culture of mutual growth between labor and management. Notably, during the company's management crises, the labor union repeatedly delegated wage negotiations to the company, which responded with wage increases above a certain level, a practice that was highly praised.

Busan Bank has maintained a no-dispute record since the establishment of its labor union through labor-management communication via various consultative bodies. In 2020, labor and management jointly issued a declaration agreeing on workforce securing and special extended working hours, smoothly responding to a surge in workload, which earned high marks.

Sempio Foods has had no labor disputes since its founding under a cooperative labor-management relationship. Its corporate philosophy prioritizing employee happiness and collaborative labor-management relations have helped widely promote Korean food culture to overseas consumers.

Before the awards, KEF Chairman Kyung-sik Son emphasized the importance of labor-management cooperation, stating, "Labor-management cooperation is crucial for overcoming economic crises and maintaining corporate competitiveness."

He added, "KEF will strive to ensure that the cases of today's award-winning companies spread throughout the industry and become a new standard for labor-management relations in our country."

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