President Lee to Hold Labor Day Ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae on May 1, Marking First Joint Attendance by Korea's Two Major Labor Federations

[Financial News] President Lee Jae-myung will hold the "2026 Labor Day Ceremony" at Cheong Wa Dae on May 1. It will be the first time Cheong Wa Dae has hosted a Labor Day ceremony. It will also be the first time the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) have taken part in a Labor Day event together.
According to political sources on April 30, Cheong Wa Dae plans to invite more than 120 people, including key labor-management-government figures and workers from various occupations and generations, to the Yeongbin-gwan on May 1 for the ceremony. The event will run for 50 minutes from 9:30 a.m. It is said to reflect Lee's determination to revisit the meaning of Labor Day as someone who once worked as a child laborer.
Earlier that day, Lee said at a senior aides' meeting he chaired at Cheong Wa Dae, "Tomorrow will be the first Labor Day since our government took office," adding, "Starting this year, Labor Day has not only regained its rightful name as Labor Day, but has also been designated a public holiday, so its meaning is especially significant."
He continued, "I hope tomorrow will be a meaningful time for all of us to share and reflect on the value and meaning of labor," and stressed, "To build a country where labor is properly respected and treated well, narrowing the gap in the labor market is important." He added, "In South Korea, the government is the largest employer," and said, "The government should set an example first as a model employer."
However, the meeting also included a sharp rebuke of some unions. Lee pointed out, "If some organized workers make excessive and unfair demands just to save themselves and end up drawing public criticism, that harms not only the union in question but also other workers." The remarks were interpreted as a message that, amid rising labor-management tensions including the Samsung Electronics labor union's recent announcement of a general strike next month, the focus should be on win-win solutions and cooperation rather than one-sided demands. The Samsung Electronics labor union has announced a general strike from May 21 to June 7, demanding payment of 15% of operating profit without a cap.
[email protected] Choi Jong-geun Reporter