KCTU Walks Out of Plenary Session in Protest of Kwon Soon-won's Appointment as Minimum Wage Commission Chairperson

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) walked out in protest on the first day of the plenary session to discuss next year's minimum wage, opposing the appointment of Kwon Soon-won as the new chairperson of the Minimum Wage Commission.

Yonhap News Agency

Imi-seon, Vice President of the KCTU, left the first plenary session of the Minimum Wage Commission held at the Government Complex Sejong on the afternoon of April 21, stating, "Chairperson Kwon Soon-won was the head of the Future Labor Market Research Group under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and tried to justify the 69-hour workweek, thereby destroying workers' lives," adding, "We cannot accept the appointment of someone who cooperated with a regime that undermined democracy as chairperson of the Minimum Wage Commission."

The Minimum Wage Commission had previously elected Kwon Soon-won, a professor at Sookmyung Women's University School of Business, as its 13th chairperson. Professor Kwon is an expert in labor economics and human resources management. He was first appointed as a public interest member of the Minimum Wage Commission in May 2021.

As chair of the Future Labor Market Research Group, Professor Kwon also designed the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's working hours and wage system reforms. Vice President Im stated, "Chairperson Kwon played a leading role in deciding very low minimum wage increases over the past three years," adding, "We hope that under the new administration, someone who truly respects labor will become chairperson of the Minimum Wage Commission."

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