[NEWS]Passionate Debate about Wage Hosted in KU

By Lee Hye Soo (hhsl_0814@korea.ac.kr)

The Economic and Social Development Commission held a debate in KoreaUniversity (KU) in order to discuss the matters pertaining to the regular wagein Korea. The event, organized by the Korea University Graduate School of LaborStudies and The Korea Economic Daily,took place at the Centennial Memorial Building on June 5, 2 P.M.  

The debate entitled “Regular Wages, What to Do withIt?” covered the topic from diverse perspectives including views from economicsand socio-politics. Prior to the debate, there were brief but condensed seminarsin which the matter of wages for laborers in Korea was introduced in a morespecific way. These seminars entailed talking about the solutions to the wageproblems, its legal problems, and its economic influence.

The debate was held between three hypothetical parties:the government, media and academia. The body of government was represented bythe Economic and Social Development Commission and the media party by The Korea Economic Daily. Renownedprofessors from KU, Sung Kyun Kwan University (SKKU), as well as the Kyu ShuSangyo University in Japan, came to represent the academia party.

Kim Dong Won, the dean of KU Graduate School ofLabor Studies, said in his opening speech, “I think the fact that many peopleattended this event reflects how serious matters of wages are in Korea … I hopethat this debate provides an opportunity to find some solutions to the matter.”

The chairman of the Economic and Social Development,Choi Jong Tae, said, “Labor is an interaction between humans; it can be saidthat it is what makes the human’s characteristics. Therefore, it is veryimportant that the society provides a proper form of compensation.” Choi alsoemphasized on the importance of communication as it is the ultimate way peoplecan achieve anything.

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