Seoul mayoral candidate Jeong Won-oh pledges paid sick leave for freelancers, expanded flexible work

Democratic Party Seoul mayoral candidate Jeong Won-oh speaks about labor pledges outside the Jeon Tae-il Memorial Hall in Seoul on April 30. [Photo courtesy of Jeong’s campaign]

Democratic Party Seoul mayoral candidate Jeong Won-oh said April 30 he would expand Seoul-style flexible work arrangements and introduce a Seoul paid sick leave program for freelancers and other vulnerable workers.

Jeong announced the labor platform outside the Jeon Tae-il Memorial Hall along Cheonggyecheon in Jongno District, saying that if Seoul runs on labor, the city government should also share responsibility for the time of working residents.

Under the banner of “a worker-respecting Seoul rebuilt with the voices of working residents,” the plan focuses on work-life balance and strengthening the right to rest when sick.

To advance his signature goal of a “30-minute commute city,” Jeong said he would broaden flexible work options including telework, remote work and staggered hours. He also pledged to build a dense network of “public and shared offices near home” by using idle spaces such as subway stations. Companies that adopt flexible work would receive incentives, and would get extra points when participating in Seoul city bids and projects.

Democratic Party Seoul mayoral candidate Jeong Won-oh lays flowers at a statue of labor activist Jeon Tae-il in Seoul on April 30. [Photo=Yonhap]

Jeong also pledged to introduce paid sick leave for freelancers, the self-employed, platform workers and day laborers, expanding a pilot program previously launched in Jongno District across the city. “Resting when you’re sick is not a privilege, it’s common sense,” he said, adding that Seoul would serve as a safety net for residents in blind spots for workers’ compensation insurance and paid leave.

He said he would create new “Seoul-style worker protection standards” to prevent job losses as artificial intelligence, robots and automation spread, and set up a framework for discussions on a “just transition” to protect workers expected to be harmed by the climate crisis.

Before the announcement, Jeong visited the Sinjeong rail depot and the Yangcheon public bus garage early April 30 to meet workers, and later laid flowers at the Jeon Tae-il statue at Cheonggyecheon’s Jeon Tae-il Bridge. Referring to those visits, Jeong said May 1 would be the first day in 63 years to be observed again under the name “Labor Day,” and pledged to carry the voices he heard at worksites and Jeon’s vision into Seoul city policy.

* This article has been translated by AI.

Hyeon Mi Cho