Yoon Orders Improvement of Dual Wage Structure Between Primary and Subcontractor Unions Like the 'Daewoo Shipbuilding Incident'

President Yoon Gives Instructions to Aides Before Vacation... Cancels Regional Schedule and Decides to Stay in Seoul

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is taking a vacation from the 1st to the 5th of this month, instructed his aides to "find improvement measures regarding the dual wage structure issue between the primary and subcontracted labor unions revealed during the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) subcontracted union strike, as it is a problem our society must resolve." Originally, President Yoon planned to spend 2 to 3 days in the provinces during his vacation but decided to stay in Seoul to contemplate the political situation.

A presidential office official conveyed this during a briefing held at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 1st, stating that President Yoon, through Chief Presidential Secretary Kim Dae-gi, gave his aides instructions concerning current issues.

President Yoon had emphasized law and principles during the time when the DSME subcontracted union occupied a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) produced at the Okpo Shipyard 1 Dock in Geoje, Gyeongnam, and continued their strike, stressing that illegal acts must be strictly punished regardless of who commits them.

When asked by reporters whether the president’s perspective was based on additional reports after the situation was resolved or if he was already aware of the fundamental issues, the official responded, "The president is speaking from a principled standpoint," adding, "DSME revealed various problems our society and economy face through that incident, so he received multiple reports and held discussions."

He continued, "One of those issues was instructed upon as the president went on vacation," and added, "I understand that the relevant senior secretariat is working on this, and we will disclose any developments that can be made public later."

President Yoon also ordered thorough measures in response to the rising number of COVID-19 infections. The official mentioned, "Last week, President Yoon postponed the Ministry of Education’s briefing to visit the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) and urged them to make every effort in preparing COVID-19 countermeasures," and noted, "He also instructed the establishment of a special COVID-19 response team to provide daily detailed updates and responses to the public."

Furthermore, President Yoon asked for preemptive analysis and preparation to ensure public safety during the summer vacation season and to prevent price instability during the upcoming Chuseok holiday.

President Yoon decided to cancel the provincial visits initially considered for his vacation schedule. The official stated, "He was considering a 2 to 3-day provincial vacation but ultimately decided not to go," adding, "He plans to stay in Seoul, contemplate the political situation, and take walks to rest."

He explained, "Considering that the president’s movement during peak season could inconvenience those enjoying their vacations in those areas, among other factors, this decision was made."

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