The Democratic Party of Korea decided to introduce in September what it calls the "mega special zone special act" as a bill drafted by the Democratic Party member serving as secretary of the National Policy Committee of the National Assembly, to back three mega projects including the government's plan to foster the semiconductor industry in the southwest region. However, it said it would continue discussions with labor circles and others on the so-called "white-collar exemption" (exclusion from the 52-hour workweek), which has become a point of contention.
The Democratic Party's Mega Growth Special Committee held a government-party meeting on the afternoon of the 4th and coordinated the timing, content, and method of introduction for a draft of the mega special zone special act. From the party, Kim Min-seok, Democratic Party leader, and Kwon Chil-seung, Democratic Party policy committee chair, attended along with Lee Kwang-jae, chairperson of the Mega Growth Special Committee, and secretary Jang Cheol-min. From the government, Im Ki-geun, Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, and Moon Shin-hak, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, were present.
Park Kyung-mi, Democratic Party spokesperson, met with reporters right after the meeting and said, "The special act is mostly about regulations," adding, "There are parts related to industry, but in essence it falls more under the National Policy Committee, so the committee's secretary will introduce it."
Regarding the timing of introduction, lawmaker Jang Cheol-min said, "If we aim for passage during the regular session, it will be in September," adding, "It is hard to specify a date, but we will proceed with the concrete procedural work to introduce it."
However, no concrete plan emerged that day regarding the "white-collar exemption," the exclusion from the 52-hour workweek that has become a key issue in the mega special zone special act.
Jang said, "At the party level, we will go through a process of sufficient discussion and communication not only with labor circles but also with multiple lawmakers, including those on the National Assembly's Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee and the National Policy Committee."
He added, "There are situations where the known 'white-collar exemption' or the flexible working hour system could be codified," while noting, "We will be able to confirm that at the time of introduction, but there are considerations about how to draft the Korean version into specific provisions."