Lee Jae-myung Says Growth Without Labor Is ‘Only Half’ as He Marks Labor Day

President Lee Jae-myung said May 1 that “growth with labor is growth with a future,” calling for a sustainable economy built on respect between workers and companies.
 
Speaking at a Labor Day ceremony at the Cheong Wa Dae State Guest House, Lee said respect for labor “is not simply a matter of consideration or charity.”
 
“Growth without labor is only half, and it is not sustainable,” he said, pledging to build “a cooperative ecosystem” in which labor and management respect each other and can hold dialogue.
 
Lee stressed that a society that respects labor and a country that is good for doing business are not mutually exclusive. “There are no workers without companies, and no companies without workers,” he said.
 
He said he would pursue “real growth” in which labor and business, fairness and innovation, and growth and distribution reinforce one another.
 
Lee also pointed to Labor Day events being held nationwide, calling them the result of long preparation by labor, management, government and civil society. He said the joint presence of labor and business at the ceremony itself reflected efforts toward respect and coexistence.
 
On the era of artificial intelligence, Lee said many expect machines and AI to replace most human labor, but warned that workers should not be forced into “one-sided sacrifice” solely for productivity gains.
 
“Growth without a future for workers, who make up the majority of the public, cannot be called real growth,” he said, adding that even amid unavoidable change, finding a path of coexistence is key to a sustainable tomorrow.
 
Lee, who noted he once worked as a factory boy, recalled starting early for work and ending late at night, sometimes at dawn, with oil-stained hands. He said being able to protect his family through the sweat of labor was a comfort and a source of strength that helped shape who he is today.
 
Lee made three pledges. First, he said he would “never compromise” on workplace safety.
 
Second, he promised to ensure all workers can enjoy basic labor rights, including regular and nonregular workers, prime contractors and subcontractors, platform workers and freelancers.
 
Third, he pledged to open a path of coexistence in which labor and business move forward together, again saying a labor-respecting society and a business-friendly country can coexist.
 
The ceremony was the first Labor Day event since “Workers’ Day” was renamed “Labor Day” after 63 years. It was also Lee’s first Labor Day since taking office, and the first time Cheong Wa Dae has hosted the ceremony.
 
The day had been called “Workers’ Day” since a 1963 law established it. The official name changed after a legal revision in October last year.
 
About 120 workers from various occupations and generations attended. For the first time, both major umbrella labor groups — the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions — took part, the report said.