In the Democratic Party of Korea, differing voices are emerging over whether to pass within the year President Lee Jae-myung's campaign pledge to "extend the statutory retirement age to 65 in stages." While the secretary of the special committee on retirement-age extension said "legislation within the year is possible," the party's policy committee chair said "it will take time." The party leader is not fixing the timing for legislation. Because the Democratic Party plans to prioritize judicial reform bills and amendments to the Commercial Act in the December session of the National Assembly, some say it will be practically difficult to pass the retirement-age extension within the year.

At the Democratic Party of Korea task force launch for extending the retirement age, held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 2nd, Chairperson So Byung-hoon delivers remarks. On the right is Secretary Kim Ju-young. /Courtesy of News1

◇ Policy chair says "it will take time" vs. special committee secretary says "legislation within the year is possible"

Policy committee chair Han Jung-ae said at a press briefing on the 16th, "We are not approaching retirement-age extension legislation as a speed game," adding, "It seems it will take time until we see a breakthrough." It was taken to mean that legislation within the year would be difficult.

The Federation of Korean Trade Unions responded with a statement, saying, "The Democratic Party broke its own pledge. Say whether Chair Han's remarks are the party's official position."

As the controversy grew, lawmaker Kim Joo-young, secretary of the Democratic Party's special committee on retirement-age extension, moved to calm the situation. On the 24th, appearing on MBC radio, Kim said, "In the special committee's subcommittee, we discussed a plan to combine retirement-age extension with reemployment and push it forward in stages," adding, "I think legislation within the year is possible."

Jung Chung-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (right), and Korea Federation of Trade Unions Chairperson Kim Dong-myung take their seats at the Democratic Party–KFTU 2025 second high-level policy council in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the 25th in the afternoon. /Courtesy of News1

However, Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae, at a high-level policy council meeting with the Federation of Korean Trade Unions on the 25th, said the party is "pushing to prepare legislation and support measures that combine retirement-age extension and reemployment," but did not mention the timing of legislation. That contrasted with his comment that the so-called judicial reform-related bills would be "handled within the year without fail."

Lawmaker Kim Joo-young also appeared to step back on the 26th. When reporters asked whether the goal was to handle the retirement-age extension bills within the year, Kim answered, "Because discussions in the special committee have not been concluded, it is difficult to specify a timeline."

◇ "Prioritize judicial reform bills and Commercial Act amendments… retirement-age extension within the year is effectively difficult"

Some say the Democratic Party's lukewarm stance on passing the retirement-age extension within the year stems from the leadership's "December National Assembly strategy." The leadership has said it will prioritize handling judicial reform bills (adding Supreme Court justices, criminalizing distortion of law, and introducing a constitutional complaint for trials), the fake information eradication act, and the third round of Commercial Act amendments. The People Power Party is likely to respond with a filibuster. If so, it can be seen as effectively difficult to handle the retirement-age extension legislation in the December session.

Since early April, the Democratic Party has discussed the retirement-age extension plan and expanded the task force into a special committee, but it has yet to find common ground on key issues. Labor, management, and government all agree that employment conditions after age 60 must be prepared to address the growing gap in post-retirement income due to the higher eligibility age for the national pension starting in 2033, but sharp differences remain over the "continued employment method" and reforms to the seniority-based wage system.

The Democratic Party also decided to create a youth task force (TF) within the special committee on retirement-age extension. The youth TF plans to hold its first meeting on the 3rd of next month. Party leader Jung Chung-rae said, "The party's youth committee is also discussing measures to address potential youth employment issues and productivity plans that may arise from the retirement-age extension." A ruling bloc official said, "Aren't they trying to wage a public-opinion campaign to delay legislation within the year by putting the youth jobs issue out front?"

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