[2026 Audit] Kim Jeonggwan: "Mega Special Zone Act Must Include 52-Hour Workweek Exemptions"

At the committee's comprehensive audit on October 22

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeonggwan said on October 22, "We hope the Mega Special Zone Act will include labor-related exemptions."

He was expressing his view that the Mega Special Zone Act (the Act on Ultra-Wide-Area Special Zones), which would support megaprojects, should include special labor provisions, such as exemptions from the 52-hour workweek.

Kim Jeonggwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy. Yonhap News.

When Rep. Cho Ji-yeon of the People Power Party asked about the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's position during a comprehensive audit by the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee that day, Minister Kim said, "It seems the Ministry of Employment and Labor believes that social consensus is needed and that the matter should be discussed publicly," adding that this was the ministry's position.

The government has yet to reach an agreement on provisions such as exemptions from the 52-hour workweek for high-income and research workers. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Korea recently introduced bills both with and without special labor provisions.

Rep. Cho said the discussions were becoming a "war of attrition" rather than a "race against time." In response, Minister Kim said, "I will do my utmost to get the bill passed during this regular session of the National Assembly." Asked about criticism that the ministry was neglecting its role as the control tower for megaprojects in budget planning and review, he said, "I take that criticism seriously and will work hard to address it."

People Power Party Rep. Park Seong-min also criticized the government's decision to divide energy and resource policy between the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, saying it was inappropriate. Minister Kim responded, "In the long term, I believe industry and energy should go hand in hand." He added, "The domestic and overseas (export) nuclear power sectors are also split, which is leading to inefficiencies in those areas."

There was also criticism that, in responding to the crude oil supply crisis caused by the war in the Middle East, the government focused solely on securing supply volumes rather than on crude oil import prices. In response, he said, "In situations such as a war, I believe securing supply takes priority. At the time, our top priority was to stabilize supply rather than prices. As the situation gradually eases, our policies are changing accordingly."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.