President Lee Jae-myung on the 3rd met with Chairperson Kim Dong-myung of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and Chairperson Yang Kyung-soo of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions to discuss the "three mega projects" and the issue of extending the retirement age.

President Lee Jae-myung takes part in the national ceremony at the 2026 Labor Day commemoration held at the Blue House State Guest House on May 1. From left: Kim Dong-myung, Chairperson of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, President Lee Jae-myung, and Yang Kyung-soo, Chairperson of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU). /Courtesy of News1

Presidential Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing that on this day, the president invited the two umbrella unions' chairpersons to the Blue House and held a tea meeting to exchange views on recent labor issues and the push for social dialogue.

The president emphasized the national importance of the three mega projects and noted that successfully pursuing the projects is essential to strengthening future generations and national competitiveness.

The two umbrella unions' chairpersons proposed that, for the successful pursuit of the three mega projects, close communication as well as active participation by labor are necessary.

They also conveyed the view that labor-related issues in the mega special zone bill currently under discussion in the National Assembly should be resolved through social dialogue involving labor and management.

Earlier, on the 3rd of last month, the two umbrella unions strongly protested the government's review of easing the 52-hour workweek in the Honam-region semiconductor mega special zone and requested a meeting with the president.

Kang, the chief spokesperson, said the president and the chairpersons agreed that, for the retirement age extension bills discussed over the past year by the National Assembly's special committee on extending the retirement age, results need to be produced within the year through deliberation in the National Assembly that reflects diverse interests.

Meanwhile, the president welcomed that discussions have begun within the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) on returning to social dialogue, saying, "As national tasks that labor, management, and government must tackle together, such as labor's AI (artificial intelligence) transition and resolving K-shaped polarization, are piling up, please find solutions through full social dialogue that includes both umbrella unions."

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