The Ministry of Employment and Labor said it held the 2026 Labor Day Government Awards Ceremony on Tuesday at Luna Miele in Seoul’s Yeouido district, presenting medals, commendations and citations to 210 people recognized for contributions to industrial sites and the labor community.
The annual awards honor workers and union officials for dedicated service in the field. The ministry said this year’s program was the first since the official name “Workers’ Day” was restored to “Labor Day.”
A total of 210 awards were presented: one Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service; 17 orders including the Silver, Bronze, Iron and Stone towers; 17 Industrial Service Medals; 53 presidential commendations; 57 prime minister’s commendations; and 66 ministerial commendations.
The Gold Tower award went to Lee. The ministry said he joined Hyundai Heavy Industries in 1978 and was credited with helping build production systems in the marine engine sector and improving quality and safety to raise productivity. It also cited his continued work at partner companies after mandatory retirement, including training and developing talent.
Silver Tower awards went to Kang Seok-yoon, standing vice chairman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, and Choi Mi-ra, chair of the Soonchunhyang Medical Center Labor Union. The ministry said Kang was recognized for participating in efforts to revise labor union laws and develop field-focused policies. Choi was cited for advancing workers’ rights and workplace-centered welfare, including reaching wage and collective bargaining agreements without strikes for 25 years, creating a sleep leave system for three-shift workers, and expanding paid sick leave.
Also receiving the Silver Tower, Lee Tong-muk, a principal engineer at Kia Autoland Hwaseong, was recognized for more than 30 years of technical innovation and on-site improvements in press die processes that helped improve quality and productivity.
The ministry said this year’s awards also sought out “hidden contributors” who had been less represented in past honors, including labor providers and freelancers, and women and workers with disabilities.
Yeom Jeong-yeol, head of the Broadcasting Writers Branch of the National Union of Mediaworkers, received the Iron Tower Order of Industrial Service for efforts to improve working conditions for broadcast writers and institutionalize collective bargaining. Lee Jun-hwan, secretary general of the social cooperative Sarang-gwa-Saram, received the Stone Tower Order of Industrial Service; the ministry cited his 21 years of work in vocational rehabilitation and welfare for people with physical disabilities, despite having a physical disability himself.
Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon said the ministry would “change first and take the lead” to build a South Korea where labor is respected, workers are treated properly, and everyone who works hard can shine.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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