Seoul Mayor Candidate Jung Won-oh Accepts '4.5-Day Work Week' Proposal from IT Committee

gamemeca Ⅰ Kim Mi Hee 2026.06.02 21:06 UTC+9

TL;DR (2-3 Sentence Summary)

The IT Committee, a sector-specific committee under the Federation of Korean Chemical and Food Industries Unions representing over 50,000 members in petrochemical, food, and IT industries, announced the results of its policy inquiry to candidates for the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections. The IT Committee is an organization with over 20,000 IT industry workers active across the Seoul metropolitan area, including Pangyo Techno Valley and the Seoul Digital Complex. The committee sent policy inquiry letters on IT labor issues to candidates for Seoul Mayor, Gyeonggi Province Governor, and Seongnam Mayor, who are key figures in the IT industry, and compiled their responses. This policy inquiry was designed to resolve chronic issues in the IT industry and create a society where labor is respected through a proactive shift in labor policies at the local government level.

화섬식품노조 IT위원회, 지방선거 정책질의 회신 결과 발표 (사진제공: 화섬식품노조) — ▲ The logo of the IT Committee of the Korean Federation of Chemical and Food Industries Union, KCTU. (Image courtesy: KCTU)

The IT Committee of the KCTU has announced the results of policy inquiries for the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections.

This IT Committee is a substantial organisation, boasting over 20,000 members who are IT workers across the Seoul Metropolitan Area, including hubs like Pangyo Techno Valley and the Seoul Digital Complex (Guro/Gasan). Ahead of the local elections, they dispatched a policy questionnaire to candidates for Seoul Mayor, Gyeonggi Provincial Governor, and Seongnam Mayor, and have now compiled the responses.

The policy questionnaire laid out five key demands: ▲ the eradication of the comprehensive wage system, ▲ fair and objective workplace harassment investigations, ▲ expansion of childcare facilities for infants aged 0, ▲ a 4.5-day work week, and ▲ regular, continuous dialogue through a labor-management-government consultative body.

Candidates Kwon Young-guk of the Justice Party and Yu Ji-hye of the Women's Party, running for Seoul Mayor, along with Jinbo Party's Hong Seong-gyu for Gyeonggi Provincial Governor, expressed empathy for the IT Committee's five demands and declared a stance of 'full acceptance'.

Furthermore, Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul Mayor, has fully embraced the demand for a 'pilot program for the 4.5-day work week'. Mr. Jung detailed his concrete action plan, stating, "We will pursue a Seoul-style working hour reduction pilot program, tailored to the conditions of each industry and workplace, such as a 4.5-day week or bi-weekly short weeks, targeting Seoul City and its affiliated public institutions." For the remaining four demands, he indicated a position of 'modified acceptance'.

The IT Committee remarked, "The aspirations of workers and citizens for overcoming internal strife, the complete guarantee of the three fundamental labor rights and basic labor rights, employment stability, and the resolution of social polarization are hotter than ever. We hope this local election serves as a crucial turning point for labour policies in each local government and a significant step towards a society where labour is respected."

They continued, "We thank each candidate's camp for their thoughtful and sincere responses aimed at the sustainable development of the IT industry and the enhancement of workers' rights. We plan to transparently disclose these inquiry responses to union members, IT workers, and civil society to aid voters in making informed choices."

Meanwhile, the IT Committee includes affiliates such as the Naver Branch, Kakao Branch, Hancom Branch, Nexon Branch, Smilegate Branch, NCSoft Branch, Webzen Branch, NHN Branch, Yanolja Interpark Branch, Netmarble Branch, Woowa Brothers Branch, and Altibase Branch.

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This news was translated by AI.

Kim Mi Hee, Reporter

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Seoul Mayor Candidate Jung Won-oh Accepts '4.5-Day Work Week' Proposal from IT Committee