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On January 7, Lee & Ko hosted a client-facing webinar titled “Analysis and Outlook on the Amended Trade Union Act’s Enforcement Decree and Official Interpretation Guidelines”. The webinar opened with welcoming remarks by Kyung Duk An (Senior Advisor at Lee & Ko), followed by three (3) in-depth sessions and a live Q&A.

In the first session, Young Jin Kim (Senior Partner at Lee & Ko) presented an analysis on the “employer status” issue under the interpretation guidelines. This presentation addressed one of the most closely monitored aspects of the amended Trade Union Act—namely, the expanded scope of “employer” – with particular focus on the criteria for determining whether an entity may be deemed a “non-contractual employer”, offering both forecast and insight into how these standards will be applied in practice.

The second session, led by Chang Soo Jin (Head of Employment & Labor Practice Group at Lee & Ko), focused on the scope of “labor disputes” and the concept of “consolidated bargaining channel” under the Interpretation Guidelines. Through case studies and practical examples, this session covered the expanded scope of labor disputes under the amended Trade Union Act as well as the procedural framework for consolidation of bargaining channel, providing practical insights into how the Ministry’s guidance and the amended enforcement decree may operate in real-world scenarios.

In the third session, Min Seok Si (Co-Head of Lee & Ko’s ESG Center) delivered a presentation on “Outlook of the Enforcement Decree and Interpretive Guidelines.” This session explored the current state of preparedness and overall climate amongst various stakeholders – for instance, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, employers, and labor unions – while offering insight into potential developments and challenges that may arise as the amended Trade Union Act is implemented.

Following the presentations, the webinar ended with a live Q&A session to address questions submitted during the session. All presenters together with William Kim (Senior Foreign Counsel at Lee & Ko) responded to a wide range of highly fact-specific inquiries, offering practical guidance and perspectives on the interpretation of the law that could readily apply in day-to-day operations.

On August 27, 2025, Lee & Ko successfully hosted a seminar titled “Analysis and Outlook on the Yellow Envelope Act”. The event provided a comprehensive examination of the proposed amendments to the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act and their implications for businesses.

The seminar commenced with opening remarks by Mr. Kyung-Duk An, Senior Advisor and former Minister of Employment and Labor, setting the stage for an insightful discussion. The program featured two key sessions, followed by an interactive Q&A segment.

Session 1: Analysis of Labor-Related National Policy Agendas

Mr. Min-Seok Si, Head of Lee & Ko’s ESG Center, delivered a presentation on the new administration’s labor policy priorities. The session outlined six critical areas:
1.Reduction of actual working hours, annual leave reforms, and the comprehensive wage system.
2.Establishment of a fair wage system.
3.Extension of retirement age, pension reform, and prevention of wage arrears.
4.Expansion of labor law coverage.
5.Promotion of industry-wide bargaining and broader application of collective agreements.
6.Strengthening occupational safety and health frameworks.
Mr. Si provided a detailed analysis of the interconnections among these priorities and their potential impact on businesses.

Session 2: Analysis and Outlook of the Yellow Envelope Act

Mr. Jae-In Roh of Lee & Ko presented an in-depth overview of the Yellow Envelope Act, covering its conceptual framework, legislative history, and key provisions of the amended Act. The session also addressed the expected implications of the Act’s enactment, potential follow-up measures, and practical considerations for corporate compliance.

Q&A Session

The seminar concluded with a dynamic Q&A session, featuring Mr. Min-Seok Si, alongside Lee & Ko Attorneys Mr. Chang-Soo Jin, Hyun-Seok Song, and Jae-In Roh. The panel addressed pre-submitted and live questions from both in-person and online attendees, fostering a robust exchange of ideas.

This seminar provided in-house legal and HR professionals with valuable insights into the proposed amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, equipping attendees with the knowledge to navigate upcoming regulatory changes effectively.

A video recording of the seminar will be made available shortly.

On October 11th 2024, Lee & Ko hosted a seminar session titled ‘Efficient Response in Industrial Relations for the Second Half of 2024’ for clients. This live seminar was organized to offer insightful analyses of the latest issues and legal principles emerging from recent cases in industrial relations, and was simultaneously broadcasted online as a webinar.

The session kicked off with a compelling presentation by Mr. Deok-ho Kim, a member of the Economic, Social, and Labor Council. His presentation focused on “Corporate Management and ESG,” during which he shed light on the government’s key labor reform initiatives related to working hours and wages and ongoing discussions within the council on the relevant topics.

In the second session, Mr. Dong Hyuk Kang (Lee & Ko’s attorney) examined the recent trend in jurisprudence in Serious Accident Punishment Act (SAPA) violation cases.  In his presentation titled “Analysis of SAPA Rulings and Forecasting Jurisprudence”, Mr. Kang clarified some of the critical areas that may attract heightened scrutiny from the judicial bodies as well as law enforcement while outlining the key obligations that businesses must stay informed about and actively monitor.

In the final session, Ms. So Young Kim (Lee & Ko’s attorney) explored the latest Issues in workplace harassment and sexual Harassment. She presented recent case studies, emphasizing the importance of understanding follow-up procedures and the precautions businesses need to take in order to address these issues effectively.

Lee & Ko has a track record of offering outstanding legal support in industrial relations, and boasts multiple teams of specialists – including the labor law practice group (30+ expert professionals), environmental law practice group (30+ expert professionals) as well as the SAPA practice group (40+ expert professionals). Lee & Ko is committed to providing a broad range of legal services specifically tailored to each client’s unique needs — ranging from regulatory consulting and litigation support — to help businesses navigate the complexities of industrial relations.