Korea Golf Course Management Association Voices Concern Over Bill to Convert Caddies to Workplace Subscribers

Annual Financial Burden Amounting to Hundreds of Millions of Won, Call for Flexible System
Focused Discussions on Labor-Management Conflict Cases and Cart Accident Response

The Korea Golf Course Management Association has expressed concerns regarding a bill currently pending in the National Assembly that would convert special-type workers (hereinafter referred to as "special-type workers") into workplace subscribers for the National Pension and National Health Insurance.

On August 6, the association stated, "This bill conflicts with the employment structure of the golf course industry and raises concerns about an annual financial burden amounting to hundreds of millions of won," adding, "We plan to continue urging the government and the National Assembly to implement a flexible system that reflects the realities of the industry."

Representatives of the Korea Golf Course Management Association Southern Gyeonggi Regional Council are discussing various agenda items at a regular meeting. Photo by Korea Golf Course Management Association

Currently, special-type workers such as golf course caddies are mostly classified as dependent self-employed persons and are enrolled in the National Pension as regional subscribers. Regional subscribers are responsible for the entire pension insurance premium themselves, whereas workplace subscribers split the premium equally between the employer and the employee. Therefore, if these workers are converted to workplace subscribers for the National Pension and National Health Insurance, golf courses will face increased related expenditures.

Last month, during a series of regional representative meetings held across eight regional associations nationwide, the association shared the results of a simulation examining the potential financial burden based on a scenario involving 80 caddies. The regional representative meetings also focused on analyzing recurring labor-management conflict cases within golf courses, developing a manual for responding to cart accidents, and discussing countermeasures for heat waves and food poisoning prevention during the summer.

Choi Dongho, president of the association, stated, "For the golf course industry to achieve stable growth amid rapidly changing internal and external environments, solidarity and swift information sharing between the association and its member companies are essential," adding, "The association will continue to provide policies and support that offer practical benefits to its members."

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