Park Soon-young named inaugural labor director

A view of the Human Resources Development Service of Korea headquarters in Jung-gu, Ulsan [Yonhap]
A view of the Human Resources Development Service of Korea headquarters in Jung-gu, Ulsan [Yonhap]

The Human Resources Development Service of Korea has appointed a labor director for the first time in its history, formally introducing a system that gives worker representatives a direct voice in management decisions.

The agency announced Tuesday that it had named Park Soon-young as its inaugural labor director. Under the labor director system, a worker representative sits on the board of directors and participates in deliberations on major management issues and policy decisions.

The appointment follows a legislative amendment. The law governing the agency was revised last October to allow for the appointment of a labor director, and the amended act took effect in February this year.

Park Soon-young, labor director of the Human Resources Development Service of Korea
Park Soon-young, labor director of the Human Resources Development Service of Korea

Park joined the agency in 2004 and has since served as director of gender equality affairs for the labor union and chair of the Seoul regional branch. She will draw on her field experience and union background to channel workers' views into the agency's operations.

The appointment is expected to expand worker participation in the agency's management and project operations on an institutional basis. Like other board members, the labor director will take part in board meetings and exercise voting rights on major agenda items.

"I feel the weight of responsibility as the agency's first labor director," Park said. "I will faithfully reflect the voices from the field across all areas of management, work to create a transparent and fair operating environment, and strive to make this an agency trusted by both the public and its employees."

The labor director system was introduced to expand worker participation in the management of public institutions and has been in place at some state-owned enterprises and quasi-governmental agencies. The Human Resources Development Service of Korea said it hopes the appointment will strengthen the foundation for communication and cooperation between management and labor.


fact0514@heraldcorp.com