South Korean legislative and labor disputes

South Korea’s major political parties reached a preliminary agreement on 32 livelihood-related bills to be processed during the National Assembly session. This agreement included measures such as raising the threshold for Social Overhead Capital feasibility studies and introducing a mandatory tender offer system to protect minority shareholders.

Despite broader legislative progress, significant disputes emerged regarding the Mega Special Zone Act. While political parties disagreed on which committee should oversee the bill, the focus shifted toward labor deregulation.

In response to these tensions, the government, management, and labor representatives—including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Korean Trade Union Congress—initiated tripartite social dialogue. The government is proposing labor exemptions to promote economic growth, such as a ‘white-collar exemption’ from the 52-hour workweek limit. However, labor groups have expressed strong resistance, demanding that discussions begin from a ‘zero-base’ and arguing that the proposed measures undermine labor rights and social safety nets.