Two weeks of theory, six weeks of hands-on practice — from industry inspections to suspect questioning and case referrals

Government budget bill allocates 4.3 billion won for a dedicated training institute planned for next year with 24 staff

Employment and Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon speaks at an awards ceremony honoring outstanding labor inspectors, held at the Jeon Tae-il Memorial Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Sept. 29. [Ministry of Employment and Labor]
Employment and Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon speaks at an awards ceremony honoring outstanding labor inspectors, held at the Jeon Tae-il Memorial Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Sept. 29. [Ministry of Employment and Labor]

An eight-week training program for newly appointed regional labor inspectors launched Monday, aimed at strengthening their capacity to conduct workplace inspections and investigations. The program comes as prosecutors' authority to direct labor investigations was abolished, placing greater responsibility on inspectors themselves and the Ministry of Employment and Labor's internal command structure. The ministry is also pushing to establish a dedicated professional training institute next year.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the training for new regional inspectors runs from Monday through Dec. 4. It consists of two weeks of theory at a "basic inspection school" and six weeks of case-based practice at an "investigation school" — with three-quarters of the total program devoted to hands-on exercises.

Building investigative expertise among labor inspectors has become an urgent task following a restructuring of the investigation system. An amended Code of Criminal Procedure that took effect Oct. 2 abolished prosecutors' authority to direct investigations by special judicial police officers. The ministry has established its own internal command structure under which regional office heads bear final responsibility, supported by department chiefs. Investigation review committees that include outside experts are to be set up at headquarters and at seven regional offices.

Because inspectors must now assess facts and apply the law without prosecutorial guidance, the competence of supervisors who direct investigations has become just as important as that of frontline inspectors. The training program, detailed in materials submitted to the National Assembly, focuses on mastering the key provisions of major labor laws and the step-by-step procedures for handling cases.

The ministry plans to develop a checklist-style inspection manual that standardizes inspection procedures. Through mock-case exercises, inspectors will experience the inspection process across key case types and industries, and will learn the criteria for identifying legal violations and the appropriate follow-up measures.

The basic school covers the framework of the Labor Standards Act, employment contracts, wage and working-hour calculations, allowances, and holiday and leave systems. Workplace harassment, gender sensitivity and prevention of secondary harm are also included. The curriculum addresses major legal regimes — including retirement pay, minimum wage, the Fixed-Term and Part-Time Employment Act, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Act — as well as the fundamentals of criminal law and the Code of Criminal Procedure, investigation procedures, and compulsory investigative measures.

The investigation school begins with basic labor-order checks, then moves through assessing violations by statutory provision, conducting comprehensive industry-specific inspections, and initiating investigation procedures when corrective orders go unheeded.

The first week covers hands-on practice in written disclosure of employment conditions such as employment contracts, the four core principles of wage payment, minimum wage compliance, issuance of pay stubs, and proper payment of severance. Subsequent weeks address working-hour and allowance calculations, protections for fixed-term and part-time workers, annual leave, retirement pensions, and maternity protections. Inspection points for workplaces employing foreign nationals, as well as reviews of work rules and various documents, are also included.

Industry-specific comprehensive inspection exercises cover retail and wholesale trade, food service, agriculture and fisheries, manufacturing, lodging, construction, small and mid-sized hospitals, and small and mid-sized financial firms. In the final week, trainees work through a step-by-step simulation — from crime recognition and suspect questioning to investigation reports and case referrals — using cases in which corrective orders were not followed.

A capacity-building TF composed of veteran inspectors will take part in the training. The TF will take full charge of the six-week investigation school and will also teach key subjects in the basic school.

The ministry is also pursuing the establishment of a permanent professional training institute to provide ongoing support. According to materials submitted to the National Assembly, consultations with related ministries on creating the new organizational unit have been completed, and the ministry plans to reflect it in the 2027 organizational structure with one affiliated institution and a staff of 24.

The government's budget bill allocates 4.3 billion won ($3.21 million) for the initiative, which is currently under National Assembly review. The budget breaks down into 2.55 billion won for renovation construction and 1.75 billion won for operating costs covering asset acquisition, equipment purchases and leasing. The institute is planned to handle not only the investigation school for new recruits but also dedicated practical training courses for managers, including office heads, department chiefs and team leaders.


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