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Mayor Chun Jae-soo Meets with Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon

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Busan Metropolitan City announced that Mayor Chun Jae-soo met with Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon at the Mayor’s Office in City Hall at 3:10 p.m. today (July 10) to discuss measures for strengthening the competitiveness of the maritime and shipbuilding industries, creating regional jobs, and fostering a safe working environment.

The meeting was arranged to respond to changes in the maritime industry driven by the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and shipping companies to Busan, as well as the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. It also aimed to establish a systematic framework for developing talent needed by regional industries while strengthening cooperation with the central government.

During the meeting, Mayor Chun and Minister Kim agreed on the need to strengthen regionally tailored talent development and job matching systems to meet the growing demand for workers in the maritime industry.

Both sides agreed that the central and local governments should work closely together to cultivate the skilled workforce required by regional industries and establish an integrated employment support system that connects education with job placement.

In particular, Mayor Chun proposed the establishment of a specialized training program for polar navigation officers to proactively prepare for the commercialization of Arctic shipping routes. He also requested the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s active support in building a vocational training system that develops highly skilled professionals aligned with the needs of regional industries.

The two sides also discussed measures to promote mutually beneficial cooperation between primary contractors and subcontractors in Busan’s key shipbuilding industry, as well as ways to improve working conditions.

Minister Kim stated, “I hope Busan Metropolitan City will take the lead in narrowing the gap between primary contractors and subcontractors and creating a stable working environment, thereby establishing a successful model that can serve as an example for other industries.”

Mayor Chun responded, “Promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between primary contractors and subcontractors in the shipbuilding industry is a critical task for enhancing the sustainable competitiveness of our regional industries. Busan Metropolitan City will actively support efforts to ensure that reducing labor disparities and fostering cooperative partnerships become firmly established in the workplace.”

The two sides also shared the view that protecting workers’ lives and safety is a responsibility shared by both the central and local governments and agreed to strengthen cooperation in preventing industrial accidents.

Minister Kim called for stronger collaboration between the central and local governments in implementing accident prevention policies that reflect the characteristics of regional industries. Mayor Chun affirmed that Busan Metropolitan City would work closely with the Ministry of Employment and Labor to enhance safety management at industrial worksites and continuously promote accident prevention policies tailored to regional industrial characteristics.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “The competitiveness of Busan as a leading maritime industry city begins with jobs. Through close cooperation with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, we will systematically cultivate the talent needed by regional industries, create high-quality jobs and a safe working environment, and implement employment policies that citizens can truly experience and benefit from.”