Ruling party, gov't support "over 52-hour workweek" for workers in semiconductor industry

At the National Assembly.

The ruling party has proposed permitting flexibility in work hours for those in the chip industry to allow for a strategic edge over the competition in the global AI race.

Our correspondent Lee Shi-hoo reports.

How can South Korea's semiconductor industry further boost its global competitiveness amid ongoing shifts in the global AI market?

The ruling People Power Party has suggested an exception to the current labor law so that employees in the sector could work for more than 52 hours per week, the limit laid out under Korea's labor law.

"The competitiveness of our semiconductor industry is weakening due to rigid operations based on a 52-hour workweek. The legal restriction is blocking R&D and production line operations despite the lack of time facing us."

In a discussion with the ministers of trade and labor held at the National Assembly on Tuesday, lawmakers suggested the legislation of a special act that will allow for a labor law exemption that will enable research professionals to work for longer than 52 hours per week.

The special act also aims to provide firms with additional government subsidies to support their growth.

The ruling party urged the opposition parties to join them in the efforts so the special act can be approved this month

with Acting President Choi Sang-mok, also showing his support on Tuesday, saying, "The National Assembly should conclude the special act and other key economy-related bills during its February session."

The leader of the main opposition Democratic Party Lee Jae-myung, the day before, had spoken favorably of giving the semiconductor industry flexibility in its working conditions, but with restrictions.

Lee said at a related debate on Monday that while he "hasn't come up with conclusions," he would consider allowing high-income research professionals to work longer in certain periods of the year if the workers themselves agree to it.

Meanwhile, the ruling party and government officials also discussed measures to resolve unsold housing issues occurring in non-capital regions in the country, as well as further "livelihood" measures for those in need including grocery vouchers for the financially vulnerable, as well as support for small business owners, workers in jobs with weak stability, and for young people.

Tuesday's discussions came following the release of DeepSeek's open-source AI Chatbot last month, which has impacted the global AI development environment, and the recent imposition of tariffs by the newly launched Trump administration that is posing increased risks to South Korean firms.

Lee Shi-hoo, Arirang News.