KCTU Walks Out Over Election of Kwon Soonwon, Who "Justified 69-Hour Workweek," Disrupting Minimum Wage Deliberations From Day One (Comprehensive)
by Im Onyu
Published 21 Apr.2026 17:01(KST)
Updated 21 Apr.2026 17:07(KST)
First Plenary Session Held at Government Complex Sejong on the 21st
KCTU: "A Figure Who Justified the Yoon Administration's Long Working Hours"
Kwon Soonwon, a professor in the School of Business Administration at Sookmyung Women's University, has been elected as the chairperson of the Minimum Wage Commission, which is responsible for deliberating the minimum wage for 2027.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), representing workers, protested Kwon’s election, claiming he “justified the 69-hour workweek under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration,” and walked out of the meeting. As a result, future deliberations are expected to face difficulties.
On April 21, the Minimum Wage Commission held its first plenary session of the year at the Government Complex Sejong and began deliberations on next year’s minimum wage.
On this day, the committee members elected Professor Kwon as the new chairperson, following the resignation of former chairperson Lee Injae. Since 2019, Kwon has served as a public interest member of the Minimum Wage Commission.
Kwon stated, “Determining the minimum wage is a critical responsibility that requires considering not only the livelihood stability for low-wage workers and the protection of labor value, but also the payment capacity of small business owners and SMEs, employment conditions, and the overall sustainability of our economy. I ask all members to do their utmost to ensure that the minimum wage is set at a reasonable level through rigorous deliberation.”
The Minimum Wage Commission will deliberate on several matters through multiple plenary sessions, including the criteria for setting the minimum wage amount, whether to differentiate by industry, whether to apply the minimum wage to contract-based workers, and the overall minimum wage level. Among these, the issue of applying the minimum wage to contract workers will be discussed for the first time this year, at the request of Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Younghoon.
The labor side is expected to demand an increase of around 7 percent to prevent a decline in real wages due to high inflation. Strategically, they may even present a double-digit increase proposal at the beginning of discussions. On the other hand, the employer side is likely to call for a freeze, arguing that in a context of rising oil prices and increased costs, small business owners and SMEs cannot withstand further labor cost burdens. Both labor and management have yet to decide on their initial minimum wage proposals.
Ryu Kisub, Secretary General of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), said in his opening remarks, “The system needs to be improved so that a minimum universal safety net can function for those in the blind spots of the minimum wage, such as platform workers, freelancers, and specially-employed workers. I will do my best to ensure that this year’s minimum wage deliberations focus on their original purpose of stabilizing the livelihoods of low-wage workers.”
Imi Sun, Vice Chairperson of the KCTU, stated, “For the President’s remarks on ‘a more sufficient and adequate wage beyond the minimum wage’ not to become empty rhetoric, substantial measures must be introduced to guarantee the survival rights of low-wage, specially-employed, and platform workers. The Minimum Wage Commission must work to restore lost social trust and ensure that the increase and elimination of blind spots will genuinely strengthen the lives of all working people.”
However, the KCTU walked out of the plenary session in protest of Kwon’s election as chairperson. Kwon previously chaired the Future Labor Market Research Group and was involved in designing the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s plans to reform working hours and wage systems. For this reason, the KCTU has consistently opposed his appointment. At a press conference just before the meeting, the KCTU insisted, “The chairperson of the Minimum Wage Commission must be someone who can reflect the voice of labor and, at the very least, guarantee fairness and neutrality. Any appointment failing to meet these standards cannot be considered legitimate.”
Vice Chairperson Im added, “Kwon Soonwon, as head of the Yoon administration’s Future Labor Market Research Group, sought to justify the 69-hour workweek and destroy workers’ lives. We cannot accept as chairperson someone who collaborated with an anti-democratic government. Furthermore, Kwon has led efforts to set very low wage increases over the past three years. We hope the new administration will appoint a chairperson who respects labor.”
Ryu Kijeong, Executive Managing Director of the Korea Employers Federation (KEF) and an employer representative, stated in his opening remarks, “This year’s minimum wage deliberations must reflect the harsh economic reality and the actual payment capacity in the field. Given the worsening internal and external conditions, even a freeze in the minimum wage may become a burden for businesses.”
Yang Okseok, Director of Human Resources Policy at the Korea Federation of SMEs, said, “The number of self-employed businesses closing continues to rise, surpassing 1 million last year, and more companies are filing for strikes than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding differentiation by industry, since it directly affects the livelihoods of business owners and workers in each sector, I will continue to emphasize its necessity and strive to clear up misunderstandings about differentiated application.”
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