On January 23, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, led by Minister Kim Young-hoon, held a National Directors’ Meeting attended by key executives and 48 regional directors. The meeting reaffirmed the unity between the headquarters and local offices under the vision of ‘a nation where everyone can work happily.’ Participants discussed concrete goals and strategies to address three major labor market gaps: industrial accidents, wage arrears, and youth employment.
The meeting was broadcast live, allowing for real-time communication and broad collection of opinions from the public and field workers. Each regional office presented tailored objectives and action plans based on local industrial accident patterns and sector distributions. For instance, the Daegu office set a goal to reduce fatalities at small construction and logging sites by 50% compared to the previous year. The Gyeonggi office aims to expand wage arrears prevention inspections by 40% and reduce arrears by 10% by 2026, while the Seoul office targets a 10% increase in youth employment through the Employment 24 platform.
Minister Kim urged regional directors to take proactive roles based on local labor market characteristics and emphasized the importance of data-driven, targeted administration. He called for swift and bold policy implementation and genuine communication with the public. During the meeting, citizens submitted real-time comments via YouTube, to which the Minister responded directly or instructed policy adjustments, ensuring transparent and interactive governance.
Going forward, the Ministry will regularly monitor the progress of regional goals and continue to hold National Directors’ Meetings, broadcasting them live for public transparency. These efforts aim to foster collaboration between headquarters and local offices, accelerating the resolution of labor market disparities. The initiative is expected to enhance respect for labor, drive genuine growth, and create a society where everyone can work happily, with increased transparency and public engagement.
The Ministry’s approach of live-streaming policy meetings and implementing region-specific, data-driven strategies sets a new standard for transparent and participatory governance. Real-time public engagement and feedback integration are likely to increase policy effectiveness and trust. This model could serve as a benchmark for other government agencies aiming to close social gaps and foster inclusive growth.