South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (C) speaks during a meeting with representatives of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of the country’s two major umbrella labor unions, at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, South Korea, 10 April 2026. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
April 10 (Asia Today) — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that the spread of artificial intelligence in workplaces cannot be avoided, while urging labor groups to help develop safeguards for workers affected by the technology. Lee is South Korea’s president, and the Korea.net government portal uses the spelling “Lee Jae Myung.”
Lee made the remarks during a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae with 24 officials from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, or KCTU, after its leader raised concerns about job losses tied to automation and what he called “physical AI.” The labor group’s chairman is commonly rendered in English as Yang Kyung-soo.
“The question is how to respond,” Lee said. “Simply saying it should not happen is not a solution. It cannot be avoided.”
Yang said workers could accept AI if it takes over dangerous, difficult or overnight work, but warned that automation has historically been linked to job losses. He said the emergence of “physical AI” raises deeper concerns because it may not just change jobs but eliminate them altogether.
Yang called for a broader response that goes beyond employment policy alone, saying discussions should also cover the social safety net, labor rights and ways to recover excess corporate profits generated through AI.
Lee said the government is already pursuing policies to accelerate the adoption of digital AI through public investment in an effort to stay globally competitive. At the same time, he acknowledged that a government push to replace labor too aggressively could be seen as anti-labor.
He urged the labor sector to propose alternatives and additional protections, saying the government would accept as much as possible where feasible.
Lee also said workers do not need to be overwhelmed by fear over AI, pointing to the example of smart factories. He said there had been similar concerns when those systems were introduced, but several years later more workers were needed to improve and operate them.
He proposed joint research by the government and industry on how AI should be understood and used in workplaces.
“If skilled labor is replaced by robots, workers’ cooperation and management will still be needed,” Lee said. “This is not something we should try to avoid.”
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260410010003172