Currently, the Ministry of Employment and Labor is referring to Minister Kim Young-hoon as 'Minister of Labor' in press releases. This differs from the previous terms used during the tenures of former Ministers Lee Jung-sik and Kim Moon-soo, who were referred to as 'Minister of Employment.' It also does not align with the regulatory rules regarding the abbreviated title for government agencies, which allow for it to be called 'Ministry of Employment.'
Minister Kim Young-hoon is a former worker. He worked as a train engineer for KORAIL for 34 years and took honorably retirement shortly after his appointment as Minister. He is also a labor activist who has served as the Chairperson of the Railway Workers' Union and the Chairperson of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU).
In the government buildings of Sejong City, where the Ministry of Employment and Labor is located, there are comments suggesting, "Given Minister Kim's recent activities, it seems more appropriate to refer to him as Minister of Labor rather than Minister of Employment." Previously, during a National Assembly confirmation hearing, a lawmaker suggested, 'The name of the Ministry of Employment and Labor should be changed to Ministry of Labor,' to which Minister Kim responded, "I will seriously consider it."
Since assuming office, Minister Kim has been visiting various labor sites frequently. On the 22nd, at a construction site in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, he stated, "We will take strict measures against recurring incidents such as falls, entrapment, and collapses, which are characteristic of developing countries." On the 30th, at the Coupang logistics center in Dongtan, he remarked, "Workers should be able to take regular breaks." Moreover, on the 31st, during a visit to POSCO E&C, where a fatal industrial accident had occurred, he said, "We should no longer think of people and safety as an expense."
Minister Kim is also putting effort into labor-related legislation. During a media briefing on the 30th, he mentioned his past experience as Chairperson of the Railway Workers' Union, where he went on strike to improve working conditions for female KTX crew members, stating, "From my personal experience, I have come to recognize the necessity of the Yellow Envelope Law."
There are analyses suggesting that President Lee Jae-myung has a significant influence on Minister Kim's labor-centered initiatives. President Lee has pointed out the repeating fatal industrial accident cases at POSCO E&C and SPC, labeling them as "murder due to negligent intent." Whether visiting the SPC Samlip Siheung factory, where a fatal accident occurred, or during a Cabinet meeting focused on 'industrial accident prevention measures,' Minister Kim was present. He also stated, "I will stake my position as Minister on reducing serious industrial accidents."
However, some voices of concern have been raised. A labor policy expert noted, "Employment and labor are like two wings of a bird," adding, "If we focus solely on labor policies, we cannot create and maintain good jobs." Another expert commented, "The current policies of the Ministry of Employment and Labor lack a big picture and details, making it unclear what actions will be taken."
The number of jobs per job seeker (as of June) is 0.39, the lowest level since the IMF (International Monetary Fund) currency crisis in 1999 (0.25). Additionally, the employment rate for youth aged 15 to 29 (as of May) is 46.2%, a decrease of 0.7 percentage points (p) from a year ago, showing a declining trend for 14 consecutive months.