Debate on Extending Retirement Age Rekindled...DP: "Time to Concretize Solutions"

Pursuing 'Least Possible Disagreement' Instead of Full Labor-Management Consensus
So Byung-hoon: "A Matter Directly Linked to Sustainability"
KCTU: "Calls for Legislation Within the First Half of This Year"

The Democratic Party of Korea has reignited the discussion on extending the mandatory retirement age, which had previously stalled. Attention is focused on whether the debate will pick up speed, as the approach has shifted from requiring labor-management consensus to seeking the least possible disagreement.

On April 29, the Special Committee on Retirement Age Extension of the Democratic Party held a meeting with field workers affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) to discuss the issue. So Byung-hoon, chairman of the committee, stated at the meeting, "The issue of extending the retirement age is directly linked to the sustainability of our society," and added, "Although discussions have been ongoing, it is now time to concretize solutions based on these discussions."

Chairman So said, "Even though it has been a year since the special committee began its work, we have not yet reached a conclusion. This is because, just as bipartisan agreement is crucial when passing election laws in the National Assembly, efforts to create a plan agreed upon by all relevant organizations have delayed the process." He continued, "Following this meeting, we will make every effort to gather as many opinions as possible and aim to reach the least possible disagreement."

Yonhap News Agency

Han Sung-kyu, vice chairman in charge of the Retirement Age Extension Task Force (TF) at the KCTU, said during the meeting, "Last year's goal of enacting legislation in the latter half of the year was not achieved, and there has been no substantial progress up to now." He added, "I believe this is not due to a lack of discussion, but because decisions and implementation have been delayed." Vice Chairman Han emphasized, "Extending the retirement age is not an optional policy but an essential national policy. In order to overcome multiple crises such as old-age poverty, the income gap after retirement before receiving the national pension (the income crevasse issue), and demographic changes including declining birthrates and a super-aged society, extending the retirement age cannot be postponed."

Vice Chairman Han further urged, "I once again call for the extension of the retirement age to be legislated within the first half of this year," and added, "I hope today's meeting will serve as a catalyst for decisive action toward the legalization of retirement age extension."

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