Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, emphasized the need to introduce a four-day workweek to advance into a high-tech society. During his speech at the National Assembly on the 10th, he stated, “In an era where creativity and autonomy are key, forced long hours of work do not fit.” He noted that the era symbolized by artificial intelligence (AI) will fundamentally change the traditional concepts of labor and welfare systems. Lee argued that as productivity increases due to AI and new technologies, the role and share of labor will inevitably decrease, and this should lead to a “reduction in working hours.”
Lee stressed the necessity to transition from a “4.5-day workweek” to a “four-day workweek,” saying “The era of competing by quantity is over,” and adding that extending working hours or exploiting labor makes it difficult to survive fierce international competition. He pointed out that South Korea ranks fifth among OECD countries for long working hours, working more than a month longer than the OECD average.
Regarding the recent controversy surrounding the application of an exception to the 52-hour workweek in the semiconductor industry under the “Semiconductor Special Act,” Lee remarked that even if labor hours in specific areas need to be flexible out of necessity, it should not lead to extending total labor hours or avoiding compensation for labor.
Previously, during the presidential election, Lee advocated for the introduction of a four-day workweek, but did not include it as a pledge due to criticism that it was premature to implement it as a national policy. Though he reiterated his commitment to pushing for a four-day workweek last year, no active measures were taken. However, with his mention of the four-day workweek in his recent address, there is speculation it could become a major pledge in an early presidential election.
Lee also criticized the aftermath of the December 3 military coup d’état by saying the country had regressed to a “backward nation.” He stated that “a coup driven by a lust for power is completely destroying the democracy and constitutional order won by the people with blood and toil.” He condemned the politicization of the military and violations of constitutional agreements established in 1987.
He warned of baseless distrust and violence against constitutional institutions like the courts, Constitutional Court, and election commission, calling out the emergence of “anti-constitutional, constitutional-destructive forces” in public life. Lee affirmed that while these forces continue their rebellion and regression, Korea’s strong democracy will dispel the darkness and chaos to forge a brighter future full of vibrant hope.