Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced on the 30th, “We will create substantial support measures for companies that introduce a 4.5-day workweek.”
On this day, Lee announced policies for office workers through his Facebook page, stating his goal to reduce the average working hours in Korea to below the OECD average by 2030.
He emphasized, “A national consensus is necessary, but participation from companies is essential,” and promised to “create solid support measures for companies that adopt the 4.5-day workweek and ultimately aim for a 4-day workweek.”
Lee also expressed his intention to revise the comprehensive wage system, which has been criticized for causing long working hours and “unpaid labor.” He stated, “We will fundamentally review the comprehensive wage system,” and assured that “existing wages and working conditions will not deteriorate during this process.”
He unveiled plans to significantly expand the employee holiday support system. He intends to introduce a new “Regional Love Vacation Support System” (tentative name) where employees can pre-reserve desired areas, and the government and local governments will cover the costs. This initiative is expected to not only recharge employees but also revitalize local tourism.
Additionally, to lessen the burden of daily life for office workers, Lee pledged to strengthen support for rental housing and review improvements to the tax credit for communication expenses.