The ministry selected 10 teams and nine individuals as outstanding labor inspectors. In workplace inspection, the honorees were the Jungbu Regional Office’s Metropolitan Labor Standards Inspection Division, the Changwon Branch Office’s Labor Standards Inspection Division, the Daegu Regional Office’s Metropolitan Labor Standards Inspection Division, and inspectors Kim Gi-dae (Busan Eastern), Kim Gwang-hyeon (Incheon Northern), Park Ye-seul (Uijeongbu) and Hyeon So-jin (Yeongju). The ministry said they were recognized for responding quickly to social issues with wide-ranging inspections or for contributing to enforcement of labor laws.
In complaint cases and rights relief, the list included the Incheon Northern Branch Office’s Labor Standards Investigation Division 1, the Busan Regional Office’s Labor Standards Investigation Division 1, the Seoul Southern Branch Office’s Labor Standards Investigation Division 1, the Ulsan Branch Office’s Labor Standards Investigation Division 1, and inspectors Kim Min-yeong (Tongyeong), Kim Seok-jin (Yangsan) and Park Eun-jeong (Pohang). The ministry cited their work in proactively uncovering and resolving hidden wage arrears beyond reported cases.
In active investigations, including forced investigations, the honorees were the Seongnam Branch Office’s Labor Standards Investigation Division 1, the Seoul Northern Branch Office’s Labor Standards Investigation Division 1, the Pohang Branch Office’s Labor Standards Investigation Division 1, and inspectors Kang A-yeong (Changwon) and Jang Yun-hui (Goyang). The ministry said they were credited with arresting and detaining suspects who went into hiding for years after group wage theft cases, or tracking suspects’ locations through communications warrants until they were arrested.
After the awards, cited inspectors and newly appointed labor inspectors attended an event titled “Jeon Tae-il’s Dream, Continued Through Copying,” hosted by Jeon Tae-il Civic Action. The event aims to designate Nov. 13, the day Jeon died, as a national commemorative day.
Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon said “new employment arrangements designed to evade labor laws, such as fake ‘3.3,’ are increasing, and intentional and habitual wage arrears still threaten workers’ rights at their workplaces.” He added, “This is a time when tighter, more reliable on-site oversight is needed.”
Kim said seasoned inspectors and newly appointed inspectors should “communicate and collaborate actively” to carry on Jeon’s spirit and “build a country where all working people can be happy.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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