Prime Minister Han Duck-soo Pledges to Successfully Accomplish Labor Reforms and Remove Deep-Rooted Irregularities Throughout Society

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo gives his greetings at a ceremony launching the government’s 2023 work year at the government office in Seoul on January 2. Yonhap News

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stressed that he would successfully accomplish labor reforms at all costs as he launched the government work year on January 2.

In his greetings at a ceremony marking the beginning of government affairs in 2023 at the government office in Seoul Monday, Prime Minister Han said, “We will promote reforms in three major areas, labor, education and the national pension, and innovation in the three main fields of finance, services, and the public sector,” and emphasized labor reforms.

The prime minister explained the need for labor reforms and said, “In the past, the competitiveness of our labor market remained in the world’s bottom, and we have not been able to follow the changes of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

Prime Minister Han further elaborated, “Securing the flexibility of the labor market and developing an advanced labor-management culture are very urgent issues,” and said, “We will swiftly prepare specific implementation plans and acquire public consensus through various communication channels and dialogue.”

Han also evaluated the government achievements of the past year and said, “We broke away from the vicious cycle of purposeless strikes and the illegal activities of massive trade unions, which were rampant in our work sites until now.”

He presented the goal for the new year saying, “We will do our utmost to protect the people’s livelihoods and revive the economy.” The prime minister mentioned how many experts predicted the challenges in the economic situation in 2023 and said, “We expect the real economy to face challenges due to the tight monetary policy implemented to ease the pressure from inflation.”

Han said, “We will actively provide support to lighten the burden on the vulnerable, who will be hit hardest by high prices and high interest rates, and to help SMEs and small business owners rise again,” and explained that the government would stabilize the real estate market with reasonable regulations and by promoting the government’s housing supply policy as scheduled.

Prime Minister Han also emphasized the government’s response to climate change. He said, “Stronger environment regulations and trade barriers in the international community, such as the European Union’s carbon border tax, have already become the new economic order.” “All government ministries will come together to speedily promote industrial innovation strategies and energy transition,” he said and added that the government would achieve such tasks by communicating with the industries and by encouraging the participation and cooperation of the people.

The prime minister also said, “We will properly establish law and principles without any sanctuary,” and pledged to end serious social crimes, such as drugs and stalking, and to get rid of irrationality and irregularities throughout society. He continued and said, “We will achieve balanced development led by the local governments,” and explained that the government would boldly transfer power to local governments so that they would have actual responsibility and autonomy.

Prime Minister Han asked public officials to promote policies according to the thoughts and wishes of the people and stressed that they “look far and wide” and respond sensitively to the changes in the international situation. He added, “We need to tear down the walls between the National Assembly and the government, between the public and the private, and between the central and local governments, and communicate and cooperate with an open mind.”

The prime minister mentioned the heavy downpour in the greater Seoul area, damages caused by Typhoon Hinnamnor, and the Halloween crowd crush in Itaewon and said, “We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families. As a prime minister responsible for the cabinet, I express my deepest regrets.”