ESLC Chair Kim Ji-hyung Holds Meeting with Heads of Government-Funded Research Institutes, Agrees to Cooperate on Launching a New Phase of Social Dialogue

– Chair Kim Ji-hyung Meets with Heads of Government-Funded Research Institutes –
– Opinions Gathered on the Launch of “Social Dialogue 2.0” and MOU Signed to Expand and Strengthen Social Dialogue –

The Economic, Social and Labor Council (ESLC, Chair Kim Ji-hyung) and government-funded research institutes gathered together and agreed to cooperate in launching and revitalizing “Social Dialogue 2.0.” On Friday, January 30, at 10:30 a.m., Chair Kim held a meeting with the heads of eight government-funded research institutes, including the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences (NRC), at a Gwanghwamun, and signed a “Memorandum of Understanding on Revitalizing and Expanding the Base of Social Dialogue” (see Attachment 2).

The meeting was organized ahead of a new phase of social dialogue at the ESLC, with the aim of exploring ways to strengthen the functions of social dialogue in cooperation with leading government-funded research institutes representing the fields of economy, society, and labor, and to solidify the foundation for institutional collaboration.

The MOU includes provisions for:

• Joint research on policies and institutions to promote social dialogue;

• Mutual cooperation to broaden the base of social dialogue; and

• Education and advisory initiatives utilizing expert personnel.

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Through this agreement, the ESLC and the research institutes reached a shared understanding to enhance advisory support and information exchange related to social dialogue, and to jointly promote various educational activities aimed at strengthening social dialogue capacity based on the institutes’ expertise.

During the roundtable discussion, Lee Han-joo, Chair of the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences, emphasized, “Today’s commitment will serve as a catalyst for sharing a vision of a foundational society for Korea’s transformation and for building social consensus on the solid foundation of objective data.”

Heo Jae-joon, President of the Korea Labor Institute, stated, “This MOU will provide an opportunity for members of the ESLC to rely on the research findings and expertise of government-funded research institutes regarding objective facts, while focusing their efforts on dialogue and consensus-building based on public deliberation.”

Kwon Nam-hoon, President of the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, also remarked, “Amid rapid industrial transformation and changes in the labor environment, social dialogue is a key mechanism for enhancing policy acceptance and effective implementation,” adding that the institute would work closely with the ESLC to ensure that research findings on industrial sites and structural economic changes are actively utilized in the social dialogue process.

Chair Kim stated, “The ESLC is seeking to establish a new phase of ‘Social Dialogue 2.0’ in order to build a sustainable future—where respect for labor and economic growth are harmonized—together with the people.”

He added, “For the smooth launch of ‘Social Dialogue 2.0,’ it is necessary to strengthen cooperative frameworks so that the expertise and wisdom of government-funded research institutes can be brought together in the social dialogue process,” expressing his hope that the agreement signed today would serve as a solid stepping stone toward mutual prosperity between labor and management through social dialogue.