Sohn Kyung-shik has won a fifth term as chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, known as EFK.
EFK said it held its 57th annual general meeting on Monday at the Westin Josun Hotel in Seoul and unanimously reappointed Sohn with the backing of its leadership and member companies.
Sohn first took the helm in March 2018. With Monday’s vote, he will lead the group for two more years through 2028. EFK has no term-limit rule.
EFK’s leadership said Sohn has played a central role over the past eight years on major labor and economic issues, contributing to improvements in the business environment and raising the group’s policy standing.
EFK said policy uncertainty around labor issues has grown, including debate over the so-called Yellow Envelope Act — amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act — making Sohn’s experience and leadership more necessary.
In his opening remarks, Sohn said the government’s push on key policy tasks is expected to accelerate and that discussions of policies that could burden companies may also expand. “I will further strengthen cooperation across the broader business community,” he said.
He said EFK would fulfill its responsibility as a representative business group so that corporate views are reflected in policy in a balanced way. He added that, regarding the revised union law set to take effect March 10, EFK will focus on conveying business concerns to the government and National Assembly and on supporting member companies in reasonable collective bargaining.
On debate over extending the retirement age, a major labor issue this year, Sohn said he would seek a “win-win” approach that aligns with youth employment through flexible options such as rehiring after retirement. He also pledged continued efforts to push deregulation and tax improvements, expand flexible working hours, spread job- and performance-based pay systems, and establish a prevention-focused industrial safety environment.
At the meeting, EFK also reappointed Executive Vice Chairman Lee Dong-geun, 22 non-executive vice chairmen and two auditors, following the chairman’s recommendations.
Keum Seok-ho, president of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, was named a new non-executive vice chairman, and Jin Yong-min, CEO of Seoul City Gas, was appointed a new auditor.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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