According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Minister Kim will attend the 114th ILO Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 8 to 10 as the chief government representative.
The ILO Conference is the highest decision-making body of the organization, involving representatives from 187 member countries, including government, labor, and employer representatives, to discuss international labor standards and key labor issues. This year's conference will focus on the impact of AI on the labor market and the creation of quality jobs.
In his speech on June 10, Minister Kim will outline the South Korean government's labor policy direction under the theme of "people-centered AI transition." He will emphasize the importance of maintaining human dignity and the value of labor amid rapid advancements in AI technology and changes in industrial structure, while also discussing the protection of workers' rights, strengthening social safety nets, and policies for industrial transition based on social dialogue.
Notably, this conference will see participation from the National Assembly and social dialogue organizations. Lawmakers Lee Hak-young, Kim Wi-sang, Kim Joo-young, and Kim Hyung-dong, along with Kim Ji-hyung from the Economic, Social and Labor Council, will share South Korea's interest in global labor issues and experiences in social dialogue regarding AI and industrial transition.
During the conference, Minister Kim will also meet with ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between South Korea and the ILO. This meeting is expected to further detail discussions held during Houngbo's visit to South Korea last month regarding sharing employment and labor policy experiences and cooperation in the AI sector.
Additionally, Minister Kim will present South Korea's ongoing cooperation projects in the employment and labor sector aimed at developing countries. The ministry plans to host a "Korea-ILO Cooperation Project Partnership Reception" during the conference to share project outcomes with delegations from Cambodia, Vietnam, Mongolia, and Paraguay. This initiative supports improvements in vocational training, youth employment, industrial safety, and social economy, with an investment of 16.6 billion won from 2024 to 2026.
Minister Kim will also engage in labor diplomacy with major European countries. He is invited by the French government to attend a G7 labor ministers' reception and plans to meet with the Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment and the Spanish Minister of Labor and Social Economy to discuss responses to AI industrial transition, social dialogue, and labor market changes.
Following the conference, a delegation including members of the National Assembly, the Economic, Social and Labor Council, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, and the Korea Employers Federation will visit Germany. The delegation will examine how Germany has managed conflicts through labor-management-government dialogue during the AI and digital transition and will present South Korea's "Labor-Inclusive Industrial Transition" policy.
A ministry official stated, "As the impact of AI and digital transition on the labor market grows, this will be an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation and share South Korea's policy experiences. We plan to actively promote the importance of people-centered principles and social dialogue during the industrial transition process."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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