Home > National > Social Affairs

Lee vows support to strengthen workers' basic rights in meeting with umbrella union

Published: 24 Mar. 2026, 21:27

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a meeting with representatives of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions held at the Blue House in central Seoul on March 24. [YONHAP]

President Lee Jae Myung urged on Tuesday that workers' fundamental rights should be guaranteed to help address imbalances between labor and management, vowing support for efforts to strengthen those rights.

Lee made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, a major umbrella labor group, as companies push for greater labor flexibility amid intensifying competition despite resistance from workers.

"Workers are essentially in a weaker position. It is important to guarantee their three fundamental labor rights — the right to organize, collective bargaining and collective action," Lee said, pledging government support to enhance labor rights.

Lee outlined his administration's labor policy, which focuses on improving working conditions and revising relevant laws, while acknowledging challenges in addressing longstanding structural divides.

"Polarization stemming from gaps between large conglomerates, and small- and medium-sized enterprises, regular and nonregular workers, prime contractors and subcontractors, as well as gender disparities, remains a major challenge," he said.

He underscored the importance of dialogue to bridge differences between management, which is seeking greater labor flexibility, and labor groups that strongly oppose layoffs.

"Although this is a difficult issue, open and candid dialogue based on mutual respect and trust can help point the way toward a solution," he said.

Yonhap