“I Will Restore the ESLC as a ‘Fully Functioning Dialogue Body’ and Establish a Council Grounded in Collective Intelligence for the Benefit of the Community”

Good morning. I am Kim Ji-hyung, newly inaugurated as the 15th Chairperson of the Economic, Social and Labor Council. It is an honor to greet you. It is the first time since the Council’s establishment that a Chairperson with a legal background has been appoint ed. This may invite diverse perspectives. However, before being a jurist, I am a citizen among many who hopes for a sustainable community. Along with that aspiration, I in tend to devote myself to this role by drawing upon my diverse experiences beyond the courtroom, including those involving mediation of social conflicts.

The economic, social, and labor issues facing our society today are complex and multi-layered. Domestically, we confront numerous challenges: low birth rates and aging population, youth employment issues, the polarization of the labor market, and labor crises brought about by industrial restructuring and digital transformation, including AI. Internationally, changes in trade order and the restructuring of global supply chains further heighten public anxiety. None of the tasks before the ESLC are easy.

However, before any substantive discussion of these issues, the most urgent matter is for all relevant parties— labor, management, and government—to participate fully so that the ESLC may function as a ‘complete dialogue body.’ The Council’s deliberations are guaranteed to be autonomous and independent. The ESLC is not a rite of passage, nor a showcase instrument designed to implement pre-determined government policies. Its purpose lies in the government respecting the Council’s agreements and making appropriate policy decisions accordingly.

As Chairperson, I will clearly confirm the functions and roles 3 Social Dialogue Brief of the ESLC. However, for the ESLC to fulfill its intended functions and roles, the sincere participation of all three parties— labor, management, and government—is essential. If re building the ESLC as a complete dialogue body requires repeated efforts or personal appeals, I will readily under take them without hesitation.

The most urgent task is to ensure that all parties— labor, management, and government—participate fully in the ESLC’s discussions, thereby establishing a ‘complete dialogue body.’ The ESLC is an institution of “social dialogue.” In addition to the Chairperson and Standing Members, the Council is comprised of five members representing the workers, five members representing the employers, two members representing the government, and four members representing the public interest. They gather at one table to deliberate together. This may be described as a form of “public deliberation.”

Rather than sitting across from each other at a “square table” in opposition, participants sit around a “round table,” facing the same direction and sharing concerns through “dialogue” as partners. This is what we call “social partnership.” Social dialogue is a process in which social partners reconcile diverse values and interests across groups within society and resolve disputes by identifying common interests. It is also a ladder of integration, enabling collective growth and advancement through concession and com promise.

If it is in service of rebuilding the ESLC as a fully functioning dialogue body, I will not hesitate to make repeated efforts—akin to “visiting the thatched cottage three times,” or even more. Members represent the interests and positions of their respective groups—workers, employers, and government. They cannot be asked to refrain from performing this role.

However, I earnestly ask for one thing: that members go beyond their respective rights and interests, or positions, and exercise collective intelligence to persistently seek mutually beneficial solutions that encompass the interests of the entire community. Every member holds a social responsibility to represent the interests of the community as a whole, not just one side. This is also the expectation society places on the ESLC.

As Chairperson, I will respect and support all members. Yet those whom the Chairperson and members collectively need to serve are the citizens who make up our social community. The path ahead may be unfamiliar and difficult, but we must go “together.” Only then can we go “far.” What Chairperson and the members need most in fulfilling their duties is “communication.” The fundamental method of communication is “dialogue.” Dialogue is very difficult. It may rather be much easier to avoid it. But if dialogue can yield something—and if it must yield some thing—then it is worth enduring such challenges. Social dialogue is also a “ladder of integration,” enabling us to grow and advance together through concession and mutual consensus.

Difficulty is not a justifiable reason for avoidance. Avoiding dialogue because it is difficult leads you to gain nothing. Sometimes, a clash of opinions may arise conflicts. We may even get hurt. But such circumstances should prompt us to search for new breakthroughs that can resolve conflict and heal wounds, not a reason to rush toward a catastrophic outcome. If the first breakthrough fails, we must seek the second; if the second fails, then we go for the third.

We must continue the search for new breakthroughs without ceasing. To do so, it is better not to be impatient. Is this not the true essence of communication—engaging in repeated dialogue, deepening our understanding on one another, rebuilding trust, and seeking out the most appropriate solution to the problem by exploring multiple angles even if it takes some time?

Numerous failures simply serve as nourishment for success. The more failures we experience, the closer we come to the destination of success. What truly matters is that all parties involved in the dialogue possess the “genuine will” to continue discussions under all circumstances, using restrained language and showing the utmost respect. We need to learn more about one another, and for that, we hope to be continuously connected. This is the mini mum requirement for the ESLC to function properly as a social dialogue body.

As Chairperson, I will focus on my role of presiding over the proceedings, facilitating, or mediating. Of course, I will also participate as one of the participants in the discussion. But I will not approach discussions with predetermined conclusions or push prematurely for a yes-or-no outcome. Members of the Council bear a “social responsibility” to represent the interests of the entire community, not just one side.

Instead, I will dedicate myself to sustaining a persistent, deliberative process that repeatedly seek for multiple alternatives. Rather than setting the deadlines, I will aim to conclude discussions only when consensus is reached among all participants. It is because the ESLC is a ‘forum for public deliberation.’I will also keep an open mind regarding the agenda to be addressed at the ESLC and ways to invigorate discussions.

The ESLC Act stipulates that its agenda shall include “matters related to employment and labor policies, as well as related industrial, economic, welfare, and social policies.” It is worth considering expanding the agenda beyond “employment and labor policies” to encompass “related economic and social policies,” thereby capturing a broader range of opinions. What matters the most is having the “genuine will” to continue dialogue under all circumstances, using restrained language and showing the utmost respect for one another.

I will also actively explore ways to promote “multi-layered social dialogue” across “regions and industries” and “generations and social classes.” “How should we establish and operate a system of social dialogue based on social partnership?” In my view, rather than following a model of specific country, we must develop our own “K-model” suited to our circumstances.

The ESLC must serve as the central pillar of this effort. As Chairperson, I will work with all members and staff to pursue this mission with utmost dedication. I earnestly ask for the participation, support, and wisdom of all members of the council. I also ask for the passion and dedication of all staff members. I hope that many people will find happiness through the ESLC’s work.

Only then will the ESLC itself be truly fulfilled. Until then, the ESLC will not shy away from any hard ship. For if our aspirations are realized, we will get remarkable social asset. Whenever possible, I have often quoted Louis Menand’s writings on “Pragmatism” in The Metaphysical Club, as they align closely with my belief.

I will conclude by sharing the essence of his reflections. “Even if we firmly believe in a certain truth, the possibility always remains that other truths may also be right. We act based on what we believe. But the moral justification for our actions derives from the tolerance we show toward different beliefs about right and wrong. Selection between one or the other itself is a form of violence. Something had to be devised to prevent people’s convictions from easily turning violent. It is important to understand that this concept represents a compromise.

To avoid the violence hidden in abstraction, principles and convictions must be brought down to a human level. It was precisely this ideology that supported democracy. Democracy is not merely a system of giving the right to speak to those who are ‘right.’ It is a system that leaves room for minority dissent so that, ultimately, the interests of the majority prevail. Within this framework of thought, democratic participation is not a means to an end; it is an end itself. The purpose of this experiment is to keep the experiment going. No matter how much the confrontation or conflict arise, these should be understood as temporary phases in the process of movement toward a shared goal.” Thank you.

November 5, 2025

Kim Ji-hyung,

the 15th Chairperson of the Economic, Social and Labor Council