Beyond the Workplace: Labor Law as a Public Issue in Korea

Lecture in Korean

Image generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI (2025)

Haebaleun Kim. Prosecutor, Busan District Prosecutors' Office

Thursday, October 23, 2025
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

10383 Bunche Hall (10th floor)

In today’s legal and social environment, the importance of labor cases has been steadily increasing. Labor issues are no longer confined to simple private disputes between employers and employees; they have become significant matters of public concern, directly tied to economic fairness, industrial safety, and social stability.
The growing diversity of employment types—such as non-regular workers and special-type independent contractors—has made labor relations increasingly complex. As a result, the roles of labor law enforcement agencies and the judiciary have become more crucial than ever.
This lecture will begin by introducing the concept of labor cases in Korea and the basic framework of the relevant legal system. It will then explain the concepts of wage arrears and industrial accidents, followed by an overview of major investigative cases that have played a key role in protecting workers’ rights.
Finally, the lecture will examine the current direction and challenges facing Korea’s labor law system, with a focus on recent debates surrounding the amendment of the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, commonly referred to as the “Yellow Envelope Act.” The controversy surrounding this legislation highlights the long-standing challenge of balancing labor rights and managerial authority, reflecting Korean society’s broader pursuit of industrial democracy and social justice.

Special Instructions
Event is exclusive to CKS Visiting Scholars, graduate/undergraduate students, and faculty

Sponsor(s): Center for Korean Studies