Kim Young-hoon to present Korea's labor transition model at ILO assembly amid AI disruption

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon will attend the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, where he plans to present South Korea's labor policy direction under the theme of a "human-centered AI transition." Amid growing global concern over AI-driven shifts in labor markets, Kim intends to put forward a Korean model of industrial transformation that pursues both workers' rights protection and stronger industrial competitiveness.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor said Sunday that Kim will attend the ILO conference as the government's chief delegate from Monday through Wednesday, delivering a plenary address and holding bilateral meetings with ministers from key countries as part of active labor diplomacy.

This year's ILO conference has adopted "Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Decent Work" as its central agenda item. The ILO has noted that while AI can boost productivity and innovation, it also carries risks including violations of labor rights, deepening inequality and expanded workplace surveillance.

Kim is set to emphasize a "human-centered AI transition" in his government address on Wednesday. The ministry said he will introduce the country's "industrial transformation with labor" policy, centered on protecting workers' rights, strengthening social safety nets, expanding vocational training and job transition support, and promoting social dialogue. He will also call for international solidarity and cooperation.

He also plans to highlight the government's push for a "Global AI Hub" initiative and its efforts to build labor governance frameworks for the AI era. The ILO director-general's report has similarly stressed that the impact of AI depends less on the technology itself than on labor market institutions, social protection systems and the quality of social dialogue.

During the conference, Kim will meet with ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo to discuss labor issues and avenues for cooperation. The meeting is expected to build on discussions from Houngbo's visit to South Korea last month, including plans for AI-related cooperation and the implementation of international labor standards.

Kim will also hold bilateral meetings with the labor ministers of the Netherlands and Spain to discuss responses to AI-driven industrial transformation, labor market change and ways to promote social dialogue. He will attend a reception for employment and labor ministers hosted by the French minister.

The ministry will also host a "Korea-ILO Cooperation Project Partnership Reception" during the conference. South Korea has partnered with the ILO since 2004 to support developing countries in building capacity in employment policy, vocational training, industrial safety and social dialogue, and is currently the 13th-largest donor to the ILO. South Korea is contributing 16.6 billion won (about $10.9 million) to ILO projects covering 2024 through 2026.

Following the conference, Kim will travel to Germany alongside National Assembly lawmakers, members of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, and representatives from the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Korea Employers Federation.

The delegation will visit Germany's Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the German Trade Union Confederation and Volkswagen's headquarters to examine how social dialogue operates during AI and digital transitions, how the co-determination system functions, and how Germany has managed industrial transformation.

The ministry said it expects the visit to yield useful insights for South Korea's own industrial transformation policies and social dialogue efforts, given Germany's track record of building social consensus through tripartite cooperation during periods of industrial change.

Assembly members Lee Hak-young, Kim Wi-sang, Kim Ju-young and Kim Hyeong-dong, along with Economic, Social and Labor Council Chairman Kim Ji-hyeong, will join the delegation. The government said it attaches significance to the fact that the government, the National Assembly and labor-management-government representatives are participating together in international discussions on the emerging labor agenda of AI and industrial transformation.