Politics · South Korea · 33 mins ago
South Korea hears semiconductor firms on research work-hour rules
South Korean Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon met semiconductor company representatives in Seoul on November 13.
They discussed how work-hour rules, including the 52-hour weekly limit, operate in semiconductor research and development.
Companies including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix attended, along with other firms and a trade ministry official.
The meeting was held to hear about difficulties the industry faces under the rules.
The ministry said it will use the feedback in talks on a special economic zones bill, which are already under way.
Kim said the government should seek ways to support both continued innovation and good jobs, but no policy change was announced.
South Korea’s labor minister met semiconductor company representatives on Nov. 13 to hear about working-hour rules in research and development.
The meeting focused on difficulties linked to applying work-hour regulations, including the 52-hour workweek, to semiconductor research and development jobs.
Representatives from Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and other companies attended, along with officials from the industry ministry.
The Labor Ministry said it would use the views gathered in discussions on a special-district bill.
Minister Kim Young-hoon said policy should support both continued innovation and good jobs.
- Who
- Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon met representatives of semiconductor companies, with an industry ministry official also attending.
- What
- They discussed how working-hour rules operate in semiconductor research and development.
- When
- Nov. 13, 2026.
- Where
- Switch22 in Yeouido, Seoul.
- Why
- The meeting was held to hear specific difficulties the industry faces under work-hour regulations and support discussion of possible solutions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
President Lee Jae-myung called for sufficient discussion of ways to address semiconductor companies’ difficulties using the working-hour system.
Kim Young-hoon met semiconductor company representatives to hear about working-hour rules in research and development.
- Meeting date
- Nov. 13, 2026
- Meeting location
- Switch22, Yeouido, Seoul
- Work-hour regulation cited
- 52-hour workweek
- Companies represented
- Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Wonik IPS, Dongjin Semichem, FST, MiCo Ceramics and LOT Vacuum
- Follow-up discussions
- The Labor Ministry said it would refer to the meeting’s views in social dialogue on the special-district bill
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What people are saying
For semiconductor growth to become a warm opportunity for everyone, we must focus our capabilities on two tasks: continuous innovation and achieving good jobs.
We must consider ways for the working-hour system to achieve both tasks, so that sustainable innovation can take place in good jobs.
The government will accurately identify the actual difficulties in the field and provide sufficient support so that necessary solutions can be discussed in social dialogue.