Overview
- President Lee Jae Myung, who met KCTU leaders Friday at Cheong Wa Dae, opened high-level talks on worker protections.
- Lee said AI in workplaces cannot be avoided and urged unions to propose field-tested safeguards the government could adopt.
- KCTU chief Yang Kyung-soo sought a sharp minimum wage hike and mandatory AI impact checks, citing risks from “physical AI” that could erase jobs.
- Lee criticized the rule that converts non-regular staff to permanent after two years, saying it spurs 1-year-11-month contracts and asked for a realistic fix.
- Lee pointed to institutional paths forward, inviting the union back to the tripartite council and floating worker co-ops and social enterprises to keep jobs when firms close.