Democratic Party Proposes Mega Project Support Legislation, Labor Exceptions to be Discussed Later

The Democratic Party plans to introduce the 'Super Mega Special Zone Law' on October 20 to support regional balanced development and the promotion of mega projects. Regarding the contentious issue of labor exceptions, including the '52-hour workweek exception,' the party will propose two versions of the bill—one including the exception and one excluding it—before finalizing the proposal through social consensus and internal coordination.

According to the National Assembly, Han Byung-do, the Democratic Party's floor leader, will officially propose the 'Super Mega Special Zone Law,' which aims to consolidate local governments into a single mega economic zone and provide significant regulatory relief, including expedited approval processes and financial and tax support. The bill was initially considered under the name 'Mega Special Zone Special Law' but has since been renamed.

During a meeting on national audit countermeasures held in the National Assembly, Han emphasized, "The Super Mega Special Zone Law will broaden growth opportunities concentrated in the metropolitan area to the entire nation, supporting each region to lead South Korea's future centered on strategic industries. We will make every effort to achieve social consensus."

He added, "The legislative review process must comprehensively consider support measures that underpin corporate investment and regional growth. Support is needed across various sectors, from finance and taxation to talent development and infrastructure. Given the need to address tasks spanning multiple ministries and committees, we will actively consider establishing a special committee in the National Assembly."

The labor exception provisions, particularly the exclusion of the 52-hour workweek for high-income and research workers, will undergo a separate deliberation process. Accordingly, Park Sang-hyuk, the ruling party's representative on the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee, will introduce a separate bill that includes labor exceptions, which will be reviewed alongside Han's proposal.

In this context, the Ministry of Employment stated it would consult with the National Assembly to ensure that the results of the 'Mega Special Zone One-Point Social Dialogue' are reflected in the legislative review process. According to the ministry, a working-level consultation group has met five times since a preparatory meeting at the vice-ministerial level on September 18 to continue discussions.

The ministry emphasized, "We will not set a deadline for social dialogue and will ensure sufficient deliberation and discussion. We will make every effort to devise reasonable measures that enhance competitiveness in advanced industries such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI) while fostering a healthy and sustainable labor environment."