Ruling party introduces chip cluster bill as union opposes labor exemptions

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) introduced a bill Tuesday to support a major semiconductor cluster in Korea’s southwestern region, drawing opposition from labor rights groups over provisions that would ease working-hour limits and labor protections. The bill, tentatively called the Special Act on Super-Regional Economic Zones, would allow local governments to form a single economic zone and offer faster permitting along with financial, fiscal and tax incentives to businesses. This comes as the liberal administration under President Lee Jae Myung and businesses seek to develop an 800 trillion won semiconductor cluster in the southwestern Jeolla region. DPK floor leader Rep. Han Byung-do said the party would submit another version of the bill — one that does not contain controversial labor exemptions — and develop a final draft through parliamentary deliberations. “We are well aware of the differing views across society on the bill’s key contentious issues, including the proposed working-hour exemptions,” Han said during a meeting at the National Assembly. “We will