The Ministry of Labor is considering changing its name to the Ministry of Employment and Labor. In a meeting with reporters last Friday, Labor Minister Yim Tae-hee said that the ministry has so far focused on managing relationships between workers and management but that now is the time "to change its focus to creating and providing more jobs."

Yim, a key aide to President Lee Myung-bak, is regarded as a point man involved in translating Lee's pro-business views into policy.

He has already declared his priority as bringing the nation's labor policy on a par with those of advanced countries, inviting criticism from unions.

foolsdie@koreatimes.co.kr