Acting President Han Duck-soo / Yonhap
By Kim Hyun-bin
Shortly after assuming office, Acting President Han Duck-soo engaged in phone conversations with top business and labor leaders to foster communication amid the ongoing political and economic turbulence resulting from the martial law fallout. These discussions, which involved executives from the four largest conglomerates and leaders of the nation’s two largest trade unions, took place during a period of heightened economic uncertainty.
According to an official at the Prime Minister’s Office, Friday, Han spoke with the heads of Korea’s leading conglomerates, including the “Big Four” — Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won — on Tuesday and Wednesday.
He also spoke with Ryu Jin, the chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries and Kim Ki-moon, the head of the Korea Federation of SMEs.
In addition, Han communicated with Yang Kyung-soo, the chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), and Kim Dong-myung, the chairman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), as well as six other prominent labor and economic leaders.
The official explained that the conversations primarily focused on the economic difficulties faced by both the business and labor sectors. Han assured the leaders that the government will take decisive actions to stabilize exports, boost production and support the recovery of the Korean economy.
The meetings follow a period of increasing economic strain, marked by concerns over sluggish exports and production levels, as well as labor unrest. Korea’s economy has been struggling with challenges such as inflation, global supply chain disruptions, and rising energy costs.
