Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, noted on the 10th during the National Assembly's representative speech that he proposed a supplementary budget of at least 30 trillion won for the recovery of people's livelihood and the economy.
The leader stated, "The government must not miss the golden time for economic recovery through fiscal expansion," adding that a supplementary budget is necessary for "joint consumption coupons, compensation for small businesses, local currency support, infectious disease response, training of specialists in severe trauma, public housing and local SOC, national support for free high school education, AI (artificial intelligence), and semiconductors."
He said, "As of 2022, we are the fifth among OECD countries in terms of long working hours, working more than a month (149 hours) longer than the OECD average (1,752 hours)," adding that "the era of competing by quantity has passed. It is difficult to survive in fierce international competition through extended working hours and labor exploitation."
He argued that "the era of advanced technology symbolized by AI will fundamentally change traditional concepts of labor and welfare systems," asserting that "while productivity increases with AI and new technologies, the reduction of labor roles and shares is inevitable."
The leader mentioned, "To prepare for the AI era, it is essential to discuss 'extending the retirement age' in light of labor hour reduction, low birth rates and aging, and the decrease in the working-age population." He stated, "We must achieve a virtuous cycle of 'social compromise' by increasing the burden on corporations through dialogue and trust accumulation, expanding the country's social safety net, and enhancing stable employment through labor flexibility."