The Democratic Party of Korea faced backlash from major labor unions after proposing the “Ultra-Wide Special Zone Act” on the 20th, which aims to ease labor regulations for the Honam semiconductor cluster. The Korea Democratic Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) condemned the bill as a “labor rights rollback” and demanded its withdrawal. The key point of contention is the “exceptional application of the 52-hour workweek system.” The Democratic Party stated it would separately propose a version of the bill without this provision to continue discussions.
Park Sang-hyeok, the ruling party’s floor leader on the National Policy Committee, introduced the “Special Act on the Designation and Operation of Ultra-Wide Special Zones for Strategic Industries Led by Local Governments,” which includes financial support, tax incentives, and expedited permitting processes. The bill, initially named the “Mega Special Zone Act,” was rebranded and proposed under the leadership of the party’s leadership. It also incorporates a “white-collar exemption” allowing high-income research and development (R&D) personnel—those in the top 3% of wage earners—to negotiate extended, night, or holiday work through written agreements with employers.
The KCTU issued a statement vowing to “block the labor rights rollback through broad solidarity and strong resistance.” The FKTU criticized the bill, stating, “Attempts to relax labor hour regulations and expand non-regular worker usage under the guise of regional economic growth and advanced industry development cannot be justified.” The Rebuilding Korea Party and the Progressive Party also opposed the bill, arguing, “Pushing legislation during tripartite talks is a tactic to bypass dialogue,” and insisted the 52-hour workweek exception be excluded.
To address progressive opposition, the Democratic Party plans to propose a separate bill through Rep. Choi Gi-sang, a floor leader on the Climate, Energy, Environment, and Labor Committee, excluding the 52-hour workweek exception. While the Labor Ministry has attempted to mediate social dialogue among labor, management, and the government on the exception, disagreements persist. Han Byung-do, the Democratic Party’s floor leader, acknowledged during a party meeting, “We are aware of diverse opinions on contentious issues like labor hour exceptions,” and emphasized, “After sufficient deliberation and discussion, we will prepare a final version through a merged review of the two bills.”
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