South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday emphasized the importance of worker consent in adopting labor market flexibility, warning against policies that demand unilateral sacrifices from employees. He made the remarks during a debate session with the Economic, Social, and Labour Council, a tripartite presidential advisory body, alongside labor groups and government officials.

“We need to create conditions in which workers can accept the kind of employment flexibility that companies seek. It cannot be forced, as that would be unfair,” Lee said during the session at Cheong Wa Dae. He stressed that companies benefiting from increased labor flexibility should bear a larger share of the associated costs, rather than placing the burden solely on workers.

Lee highlighted the need to reinforce the social safety net to support employees amid a changing job market. “It is not right to proceed in a way that demands unilateral sacrifice from workers. We need to create a rational environment that everyone can accept. Building a sufficient social safety net is essential so that workers do not feel insecure,” he said.

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The President called for a balanced approach in which labor flexibility and social protections reinforce each other. “It would be desirable for the labor side to make concessions on labor flexibility while strengthening the social safety net to compensate for it, with the costs borne by companies that benefit from increased labor flexibility,” he said. “Rather than having one side bear unilateral losses, we must find a point of balance through social compromise.”

Lee urged the council to play a more active role in fostering dialogue between management seeking to reduce labor costs and workers concerned about job security. “We need to pour a lot of energy into restoring trust between labor and management. The first step should be for them to sit down and have serious conversations,” he said.

Ahead of the session, the council adopted a joint declaration addressing social polarization and promoting sustainable growth. Analysts note that Lee’s comments underscore the administration’s focus on balancing economic flexibility with worker protection, aiming to build a more cooperative labor-management environment in South Korea.

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