Research Cluster

Democracy Cluster Future of Science and Technology Cluster Economic Security Cluster Population Cluster Global Korea Cluster Carbon Neutrality Cluster Balanced Regional Growth and Resilience Cluster [Expired]Pandemic Cluster

TF Project

[Expired]Foundational study for the advanced revision of the Korea-U.S. nuclear cooperation agreement [Expired]Preparation for Four Geopolitical Risks [Expired]Labor market reform tasks for restoring the dynamism of the Korean economy [Expired]Problems and Improvement Plans of Korean Education [Expired]Questions for the future of science and technology in Korea [Expired]Security and Economic Cooperation between Korea and Japan [Expired]The future of population for a sustainable society [Expired]Directions for sustainable future healthcare reform [Expired]Healthcare system improvements for the establishment of the primary care physician system [Expired]Avian influenza pandemic risk assessment and preparedness [Expired]The stagnant growth crisis: national strategy for economic prosperity

 

[Expired]Research on the outlook for key sectors of population change and response strategies [Expired]Exploring the public education system and its functions in population decline era [Expired]Policy advisory service for enhancing the future competitiveness of nuclear energy [Expired]Establishment of KEPCO's medium-to-long-term response strategy [Expired]Future agricultural and rural development strategies & response tasks for the Korea rural community [Expired]Rewriting Democracy [Expired]In the Era of Technological Competition, Korea's Future Prospects [Expired]Developing a nationally-unified response system to address frauds involving multiple victims [Expired]Changes in international politics and the rise of the global south [Expired]Research on identifying policy agendas and research issues for the national AI strategy

Event

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Title Demographic Transition: Improving Working Hour Regulations to Adapt to the Future of Work Hit 154
Category Domestic Conference
Date 2024-09-23
Location
Host Korea Labor Institute, Institute for Future Strategy
Attendant 100

Invitation to the Joint Forum
“Working Hours Reduction and Directions for Institutional Reform”
Hosted by the Korea Labor Institute and the Institute for Future Strategy, Seoul National University

Korea’s annual average working hours, first reported to the OECD in 2011, stood at 2,119 hours. By 2023, this figure had dropped to 1,874 hours—a reduction of 245 hours in just 12 years. This decline was strongly influenced by institutional changes such as the 40-hour workweek and the 52-hour cap, reflecting the will of both the Korean people and the government to curb the long-working-hours culture and promote a better work–life balance.

However, as regulations on working hours were strengthened rapidly, production sites faced challenges that could not be resolved without productivity improvements driven by the joint wisdom of labor and management. To respond to demographic changes, it is necessary to expand flexible work arrangements, enhance worker skills through human resource development, and increase economic participation by women and youth. These efforts point to the need for working hours reform that improves productivity while maintaining balance for both workers and employers.

While the effects of working hours reduction will require time, investment in human capital, and the maturation of social consensus, Korea’s demographic realities are pressing the need for productivity gains and balanced production. This provides the opportunity to explore diverse ways of fostering cultural changes in working practices that can improve the quality of life for the people.

In line with these changes, the Korea Labor Institute and the Institute for Future Strategy at Seoul National University will hold a joint forum on “Working Hours Reduction and Directions for Institutional Reform.” The forum will discuss forward-looking reform measures that respond to macroeconomic changes while addressing the economic and social lives of both workers and enterprises.

  • Date & Time: Tuesday, June 11, 2024, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (approx. 3 hours)

  • Venue: FKI (Federation of Korean Industries) Conference Center, Yeouido, Seoul

  • Format: Central discussion forum

We warmly invite you to attend, share your insights, and contribute to this important dialogue.



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