Lee So-young, nominee for minister of SMEs and startups, said the uniform application of South Korea's 52-hour workweek cap and its comprehensive wage system does not match business realities.
Speaking at a National Assembly confirmation hearing on the 15th, Lee said imposing a uniform and stringent 52-hour limit while threatening business owners with up to two years in prison for violations "does not fit today's work structures and their growing diversity, and needs to be improved."
On the comprehensive wage system, under which employees receive a fixed salary covering overtime rather than hourly-calculated allowances, Lee said some industries and companies are not suited to counting working hours and paying allowances accordingly. "Uniformly banning it or legally restricting the wage system itself could add to the difficulties companies face," the nominee said.
Lee Hyoung-il, nominee for deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance, said at a hearing held the same day that he would review whether to include electric vehicles in the scope of the domestic production tax credit, taking into account industry views after taking office.
At the most closely watched session, the hearing for justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won, ruling and opposition lawmakers clashed over allegations of lobbying to win approval for Genencell's COVID-19 treatment clinical trial and over the leak of investigative materials. Kim said, "We must establish how confidential internal prosecution documents made their way to former Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon."
