South Korean Labor Minister pushes for retirement age extension law

South Korean Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon stated during a National Assembly audit on the 13th that legislation to extend the retirement age must be processed within this year. He emphasized that discussions regarding retirement age extension are already overdue and indicated that the government will promptly present its official proposal once legislative discussions reach a decisive stage.

Minister Kim also expressed a strong commitment to passing legislation to prohibit the comprehensive wage system by the second half of the year. This move aims to prevent “unpaid overtime” by restricting the practice to only those occupations where calculating working hours is genuinely difficult.

Regarding the potential application of exceptions to the 52-hour work week within the Honam semiconductor special zone, Kim maintained a cautious stance. He noted that the government must balance corporate productivity with the protection of workers' health rights, stating that careful review is required to ensure the success of the mega-special zones.