Kim Ji-hyung, chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council (ESLC), announced plans to transform the tripartite social dialogue body representing labor, management and the government into a citizen-participatory public deliberation forum.
Kim also expressed his determination to break the pattern of the ESLC being swayed by each change in administration.
At his first press conference since taking office held at the ESLC conference room in Jung-gu, Seoul on Wednesday, Kim said, "Tripartite dialogue until now has strongly resembled top-level collective bargaining. Going forward, we will pursue deliberative democracy-style dialogue with public participation."
Throughout the briefing, Kim repeatedly emphasized the roles of citizen participation and public deliberation for the ESLC's future direction.
The ESLC has traditionally served as a forum where labor, management and government gather to reach consensus on economic, social and labor issues. The February 6, 1998 Grand Social Compromise stands as a prime example. That agreement included bold market reforms that would have been impossible without concessions from both labor and management, such as the introduction of layoff systems and legislation of the temporary worker dispatch law to overcome the IMF financial crisis. Layoffs that could have sparked social conflict if pushed unilaterally by the government instead found common ground through social dialogue.
However, ESLC discussions have often tilted toward one side of the tripartite structure depending on the administration in power. The Park Geun-hye administration succeeded in reaching a tripartite agreement through social dialogue on September 15, 2015, which included provisions for ordinary dismissal. But when the government pushed forward with fair personnel guidelines containing ordinary dismissal standards for low performers—criticized by labor as "easy firing"—the agreement collapsed on January 19 the following year, intensifying labor-government conflict. Under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, the ESLC faced backlash from labor after announcing mandatory continued employment as an alternative to extending the statutory retirement age.
"I will not neglect the value of consensus, but obsessing over agreements has often led to breakdowns or settlements limited to minor details," Kim said. "I will not rush toward conclusions but engage in sufficient deliberation."
He added, "I am aware of the criticism that the ESLC has become a mere supporter of government policies due to lack of independence. I will strive to make this a sustainable deliberation body regardless of changes in government."
Shortly after taking office, Kim set the return of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), which had withdrawn from the ESLC, as a key task. Last month, he became the first ESLC chairman in 26 years to visit KCTU headquarters and meet with its chairman. However, KCTU has not indicated any intention to return. "I hope for KCTU's participation, but KCTU's participation is not a prerequisite for social dialogue," Kim said. "We must begin dialogue with those who are able to participate."
Since taking office, Kim has met with representatives of eight labor and management organizations. While he listened to their desired agenda items for social dialogue, he did not disclose them at the briefing. Kim drew a line, stating that extending the statutory retirement age, the debate over dawn delivery services, and amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act would be difficult to address as immediate dialogue topics.
"I have also met with experts and elder statesmen to prepare five to six urgent agenda items," Kim said. "We will organize and announce these through the Agenda Development and Coordination Committee under the ESLC."
