Moon wants to meet KCTU leaders

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting with senior presidential secretaries at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Moon ordered a thorough investigation into rape allegations raised by female athletes, including Olympic short track gold medalist Shim Suk-hee, against their male coaches and called for stern punishment. Yonhap

By Kim Yoo-chul

President Moon Jae-in plans to meet representatives of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), one of the two major umbrella unions here, at Cheong Wa Dae next month, a Cheong Wa Dae official said, Monday.

“The President plans to hold a face-to-face meeting with KCTU representatives at Cheong Wa Dae, at the earliest, in a step to win backing from the labor group for the President's economic agenda,” the official said by telephone, adding presidential chief of policy Kim Soo-hyun held a behind-closed-door meeting with KCTU chief Kim Myung-hwan last week.

“KCTU chief Kim made it clear again that the labor group won't change its hardline stance toward a flexible workweek hour system saying the policy counteracts the reduction of the workweek aimed at preventing overworking. Presidential policy chief Kim and senior presidential secretary for job policy Jeong Tae-ho took the same view and passed the message to the presidential office.”

KCTU plans to hold its general meeting on Jan. 28 whether or not to join the government-led Economic, Social and Labor Council, which it earlier refused to join in demanding the government drop its plans to expand the flexible workweek hour system.

The President earlier called for greater compromise between labor groups and businesses to tackle urgent economic issues. Because economic issues have moved to the forefront of the government, Cheong Wa Dae is hoping for the KCTU to join the council as part of a collaborative process for progress in societal and economic issues.

The KCTU is a long-time supporter of the President. Moon earlier expressed his regret about the KCTU's absence at the launch of the council.

On a related note, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Hae-chan asked the KCTU to join the dialogue body as early as possible as the council will take a central role to lead changes and move forward with plans to fulfill the national agenda.

“Now it is the time for open communication and compromise to revitalize the local economy. No major elections are planned this year, so we can show the public on how greater social compromise eventually works,” the DPK chairman said in a meeting with senior party leaders at the National Assembly, Monday.