Kang Hoon-sik Urges Enhanced Effectiveness of Mandatory Employment for People with Disabilities... Higher Levies for Non-Compliance

by Song Seungseop

Published 20 Apr.2026 17:39(KST)

Kang Hoon-sik, Chief Presidential Secretary, is briefing on April 19 at the Blue House press conference room regarding President Lee Jae-myung's re-request to initiate the special inspection officer appointment procedure in the National Assembly. April 19, 2026, Yonhap News.

Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik instructed on April 20, in recognition of the 46th National Day of Persons with Disabilities, to enhance the effectiveness of the mandatory employment system for people with disabilities.

Cheon Eun-su, spokesperson for the Blue House, conveyed through a written briefing that Chief Kang gave these instructions during a meeting with senior aides on the same day.

The mandatory employment system for people with disabilities sets a legally required minimum employment ratio to guarantee their fundamental rights. Currently, the statutory obligation rate is 3.8% in the public sector and 3.1% in the private sector. Employers who do not meet this requirement must pay an employment levy.

According to a Ministry of Employment and Labor announcement as of December last year, 319 businesses were listed as "companies with significantly low employment of people with disabilities and no efforts to improve employment." Of these, 158 have been included in the list for three consecutive years, and 113 for five consecutive years. There are even 51 companies that have been publicly listed for ten consecutive years.

In response, Chief Kang pointed out the situation where some companies choose to pay the levy instead of hiring, and instructed the Ministry of Employment and Labor to "swiftly implement effective measures such as increasing the levy for businesses with chronic repeated or non-fulfillment, and introducing a phased increase based on non-compliance rates."

The issue of congestion at the Incheon Airport immigration inspection area was also raised. Incheon Airport is experiencing bottlenecks, with the number of users at Terminal 2 surging by more than 45%. Chief Kang also expressed concern that the inconvenience for both domestic and foreign travelers is increasing, with wait times during peak hours exceeding 90 minutes.

Chief Kang reiterated President Lee Jae-myung's emphasis that "the arrival hall is the country's first impression," stressing that congestion at the immigration inspection area is directly linked to the national image.

Additionally, Chief Kang instructed the Ministry of Justice and Incheon International Airport Corporation to prepare and report on fundamental measures such as increasing the number of immigration officers, improving the efficiency of inspection counters, and structural modifications. At the same time, he requested that measures be taken in parallel to provide immediate relief on-site, such as dispersing peak hour crowds and strengthening advance guidance.