The Democratic Party’s decision to block a special semiconductor law that would have exempted the industry from the 52-hour workweek rule has prompted the government to take a stopgap approach. Instead of legislative action, it revised Ministry of Labor guidelines on “special extended work,” allowing semiconductor research and development (R&D) personnel to work up to 64 hours per week. Acting President Choi Sang-mok said, “To stay ahead in fierce technological competition, it is essential to create an environment where key personnel can conduct research freely.”
However, semiconductors are not the only sector engaged in intense technological competition. A day before Choi’s announcement, the Bank of Korea’s Beijing office released a report stating that “China’s shipbuilding industry has reached the highest global standards across all sectors.” While Chinese shipbuilders once focused on securing orders for low-value bulk carriers, they are now leveraging their enhanced technological capabilities to win contracts for container ships and gas carriers. China has 18,000 R&D personnel in the shipbuilding industry, 14 times the 1,300 in South Korea.
Amid China’s rapid technological advancements, South Korea’s shipbuilding industry has repeatedly urged lawmakers to grant exemptions from the 52-hour workweek for R&D personnel in high-tech ship development. The sector has been gaining attention as a “future growth driver” following the launch of a potential second Trump administration, yet concerns remain over whether South Korea, with its significantly weaker R&D infrastructure compared to China, can seize the opportunity.
The secondary battery industry is also raising alarm over its diminishing technological edge against China. South Korean battery companies' main competitor, China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), enforces the “8-9-6” work system, requiring R&D employees to work from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. With South Korea’s R&D workforce in the sector only one-tenth the size of CATL’s, maintaining a competitive edge appears increasingly difficult.
For years, China has caught up in industries where South Korea once held a dominant lead, including displays, smartphones, automobiles, petrochemicals, and steel. Now, semiconductors, shipbuilding, and secondary batteries are also at risk of being overtaken. Despite this, the Democratic Party continues to align itself with labor unions. The government’s revision of labor ministry guidelines to allow special extended work should be expanded beyond semiconductors to include R&D personnel in other key industries.
