▲ Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan speaks with officials from major business associations on March 27, 2026. (Yonhap)

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Industry minister urges labor-management cooperation amid Mideast crisis

SEJONG, March 30 (Yonhap) -- Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan on Monday called for cooperation between labor and management, stressing that the South Korean economy is facing strong headwinds due to the persisting turmoil in the Middle East.

Kim made the call in a meeting with Kim Dong-myeong, head of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), one of the biggest umbrella labor unions here.

It marked the first time since 2006 an industry minister and an FKTU leader held a meeting.

"Our economy and the overall industry are facing a significant crisis as the conflict in the Middle East is continuing, and to overcome these difficult times, labor and management should focus their capacity on tackling the crisis and refrain from unnecessary conflict," Kim said.

"I also ask the labor sector to participate in the country's energy-saving efforts for stable energy supplies," he added.

Last week, the government asked the private sector to voluntarily participate in a five-day vehicle rotation program and temporarily adjust working hours to help even out traffic demand for effective energy consumption amid oil supply disruptions sparked by the Iran war.

Regarding concerns over a possible reduction of jobs with the artificial intelligence (AI) transformation of manufacturing industries, the minister asked for the labor union community's support for the initiative, stressing that jobs can be protected when companies can swiftly respond to major industrial shifts and maintain their competitiveness.

The government will expand incentives to induce more corporate investment in different regions while continuing communications with labor unions to help create quality jobs, he said.

Kim is scheduled to hold a separate meeting with the leader of another major umbrella union, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, on Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

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