DECREE ON THE ORGANIZATION OF THE MINISTRY OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOR AND INSTITUTIONS UNDER ITS JURISDICTION

Article 1(Purpose) #

The purpose of this Decree is to prescribe the organization, scope of duties, and other necessary matters relating to the Ministry of Employment and Labor and institutions under its jurisdiction. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010>

Article 2(Institutions under its jurisdiction) #

(1) A Regional Employment and Labor Office shall be established under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Employment and Labor to be in charge of the Minister's duties, and branch offices shall be established under the jurisdiction of the head of each Regional Office of Employment and Labor. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; and Feb. 29, 2016>

(2) A Secretariat Department of the National Labor Relations Commission and an Administrative Bureau of a Regional Labor Relations Commission shall be established under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Employment and Labor pursuant to Article 14 of the Labor Relations Commission Act to handle the affairs of the Labor Relations Commission. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Feb. 29, 2016>

(3) In order to handle the business affairs of the Minimum Wage Commission, a Secretariat of the Minimum Wage Commission shall be established under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Employment and Labor pursuant to Article 20 of the Minimum Wage Act. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Feb. 29, 2016>

(4) A Secretariat of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Reexamination Committee shall be established under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Employment and Labor pursuant to Article 107 of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act to handle the business affairs of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Reexamination Committee. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Feb. 29, 2016>

(5) In order to assist with the business affairs of the Minister of Employment and Labor, a Customer Counseling Center of the Ministry of Employment and Labor shall be established as a responsible administrative agency under the Minister's jurisdiction pursuant to Article 4(1) of the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Responsible Administrative Agencies, Article 2(1) and Appendix 1 of the Enforcement Decree of that Act. <Added on Feb. 29, 2016>

Article 3(Duties) #

The Ministry of Employment and Labor shall engage in general supervision of employment policies, duties related to employment insurance, vocational skills development training, support for employment equality and work-family balance, standards for working conditions, employee welfare, adjustment of labor-management relations, promotion of labor-management cooperation, occupational safety and health, industrial accident compensation insurance, and other duties relating to employment and labor.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Jul. 12, 2010]

Article 4(Subordinate organizations) #

(1) A General Service Division, an Employment Policy Office, an Inclusive Employment Policy Bureau, a Vocational Skills Policy Bureau, a Labor Policy Office, and an Occupational Safety and Health Office shall be established in the Ministry of Employment and Labor <Amended on Feb. 24, 2010; Jul. 12, 2010; Mar. 2, 2011; Mar. 23, 2013; Jan. 6, 2015; Dec. 29, 2020; Jul. 1, 2021>

(2) The Minister shall have 1 spokesperson and 2 Policy Advisors under his or her jurisdiction, and 1 Deputy Minister of the Planning and Coordination Office and 1 Inspector General under the Vice-Minister. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Mar. 23, 2013; Sep. 4, 2018>

Article 5(Spokesperson) #

(1) The Spokesperson shall be a member in general service of the Senior Executive Service. <Amended on Dec. 11, 2013>

(2) The Spokesperson shall assist the Minister in the following matters: <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Oct. 10, 2011>

1. Formulation and coordination of, and consultation on, public relations plans for major policies;

2. Management of various information and circumstances related to policy promotion;

3. Management of external policy announcements regarding duties within the Ministry;

4. Support for media coverage and briefings;

5. General management, inspection, and evaluation of social media policy communication, such as the designation and operation of an online spokesperson.

Article 6(Policy advisors) #

(1) One of the policy advisors shall be a member in extraordinary civil service of the Senior Executive Service, and 1 shall be a public official in extraordinary civil service of Grade III or IV; provided, in extenuating circumstances, they may be replaced by members in general service of the Senior Executive Service or public officials in general service of Grade IV or higher. <Amended on Dec. 11, 2013; Sep. 4, 2018>

(2) The policy advisors shall assist the Minister in the following matters: <Amended on Oct. 10, 2011; Sep. 4, 2018>

1. Conducting research on, and reviewing, matters assigned by the Minister;

2. Facilitating the participation of experts, interested parties, the public, etc. in national affairs and gathering opinions on policy tasks;

3. Cooperating with agencies providing policy advisory services to relevant Ministries;

4. Planning and publishing the Minister's social media messages.

[Title Amended on Sep. 4, 2018]

Article 6-2(Deputy Minister of the Planning and Coordination Office) #

(1) The Deputy Minister of the Planning and Coordination Office shall have 2 support agencies (hereinafter referred to as "Deputy Director Generals, etc.") to assist the Deputy Minister of an office or and Director General of a bureau among the assisting agencies under Article 12 of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies. <Amended on Dec. 29, 2020>

(2) The Deputy Minister of the Planning and Coordination Office and the Deputy Director Generals, etc. shall be members in general service of the Senior Executive Service. <Amended on Dec. 29, 2020>

(3) The Deputy Minister of the Planning and Coordination Office shall assist the Vice Minister in the following matters: <Amended on Sep. 23, 2013; Aug. 7, 2017; May. 7, 2019; Dec. 14, 2021>

1. Formulation, consolidation, and coordination of various policies and plans;

2. Budgeting, fund management, and other financial matters under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Employment and Labor;

3. General supervision of cooperative affairs related to the National Assembly and political parties;

4. Improvement of administrative systems and organizational culture;

4-2. Identification and selection of tasks related to government innovation within the Ministry, and confirmation, inspection, and management of the status of their implementation;

5. Management of the organization and the authorized number of public officials within the Ministry of Employment and Labor, its affiliated institutions, and subordinate public institutions;

6. Evaluation of implementation plans for performance management, government affairs, and local employment and labor-related agencies;

7. Regulatory reform and revision of regulations within the Ministry;

8. General supervision of administrative investigations and corruption risk assessments;

9. General supervision of legislative push, such as drafting and examining legislative bills;

10. General supervision of administrative and administrative litigation;

11. Formulation, consolidation, and coordination of various plans for national emergency preparedness;

12. Management of Workplace Reserve Forces and Civil Defense Units;

13. Formulation and implementation of major business plans for international cooperation in the field of employment and labor;

14. Overseas publicity regarding the status of domestic employment conditions, and the collection and analysis of information on international employment and labor trends;

15. Affairs related to the International Labor Organization (ILO), and affairs in the field of employment and labor of international organizations, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United Nations (UN), and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC);

16. International cooperation, trade negotiations, etc. in the field of employment and labor;

17. Support for and coordination of private-sector labor diplomacy;

18. Support for labor management of Korean off-shore enterprises and protection of off-shore workers;

19. Employment and labor-related matters under the Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and the Republic of Korea;

20. General supervision of informatization-related affairs of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, its affiliated agencies, and subordinate public institutions, such as the formulation and ex post facto evaluation of strategic plans for informatization, and the development and management of employment and labor administrative information systems;

21. Informatization resources, information security, and personal information protection;

21-2. Facilitation of public data provision and its utilization within the Ministry;

21-3. Promotion of data-driven administration within the Ministry;

22. General supervision of coordination of policies on the employment of foreign workers, such as formulating plans to bring in foreign workers, including the designation of sending countries, and operating the employment permit system;

23. Establishment and operation of a cooperative system with agencies in charge of the safety, disaster, and crisis management;

24. Formulation and general supervision of policies and systems related to gender equality in the field of employment and labor;

25. Measures for preventing and addressing sexual harassment and sexual violence within the Ministry, its affiliated agencies, and subordinate organizations.

(4) Deleted. <Dec. 29, 2020>

(5) Deleted. <Dec. 29, 2020>

[This Article Added on Mar. 23, 2013]

Article 7(Inspector General) #

(1) The Inspector General shall be a member in general service of the Senior Executive Service.

(2) The Inspector General shall assist the Vice Minister in the following matters: <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Feb. 29, 2016>

1. Conducting audits and inspections of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, its affiliated institutions, and subordinate public institutions;

2. Handling the results of audits conducted by other agencies of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, its affiliated institutions, and subordinate public institutions;

3. Investigating and addressing complaints and misconduct;

4. Implementing codes of conduct for public officials within the Ministry and taking policy measures to prevent corruption;

5. Managing property registration and examination of public officials of the Ministry and reporting on their military service;

6. Supervising civil petitions and establishing and operating an integrated civil petitions management system;

7. Formulating and implementing a master plan to enhance customer satisfaction;

8. Supporting the operation of the Customer Counseling Center of the Ministry of Employment and Labor;

9. Handling other matters assigned by the Minister relating to audits and inspection and customer management.

Article 8(General Services Division) #

(1) The Director of the General Services Division shall be of a Grade III or IV.

(2) The Director of the General Services Division shall be responsible for the following affairs: <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Jan. 5, 2021>

1. Maintenance and protection of security and government office buildings;

2. Management of official seals and official seal registers;

3. Management of administrative data and operation of record repositories, such as classification, receipt, dispatch, preservation, and transfer of records;

4. Appointments, service, pensions, benefits, education and training, and other personnel affairs of public officials within the Ministry;

5. Management of State property and goods, and contracts for goods, services, construction, etc.;

6. Operation, accounting, and settlement of accounts of funds;

7. Other Matters that do not fall under the supervision of other departments within the Ministry.

Article 9 #

Deleted. <Mar. 23, 2013>

Article 10(Employment Policy Office) #

(1) The Employment Policy Office shall have 1 Deputy Minister, and 3 Deputy Director Generals, etc. under the supervision of the Deputy Minister. <Amended on Apr. 6, 2009; Feb. 24, 2010; Mar. 23, 2013; Jan. 6, 2015; Apr. 16, 2019; Dec. 29, 2020>

(2) The Deputy Minister and the 3 Deputy Director Generals, etc. shall be members in general service of the Senior Executive Service. <Amended on Apr. 6, 2009; Feb. 24, 2010; Mar. 23, 2013; Jan. 6, 2015; Apr. 16, 2019; Dec. 29, 2020>

(3) The Deputy Minister shall be responsible for the following: <Amended on Apr. 16, 2019; Aug. 27, 2019; Feb. 22, 2022; Oct. 1, 2025>

1. Formulating and supervising employment-related policies and strategies;

2. Conducting employment impact assessments and supporting the formulation of employment-friendly policies in the economy, industry, education, and welfare sectors;

3. Implementing future-oriented human resource policies;

4. Operating and managing employment stabilization projects;

5. Formulating and operating national manpower supply and demand policies, such as measures to address labor market imbalances;

6. Cooperating between central administrative agencies and local governments in job programs, such as the local job target disclosure system, and the local employment policies;

7. Formulating and supervising policies to improve the employment and welfare conditions of construction workers;

8. Evaluating performance of policies related to employment insurance;

9. Formulating and coordinating policies related to employment insurance;

10. Applying and collecting employment insurance contributions;

11. Operating the employment insurance fund and managing its assets, etc.;

11-2. Managing surplus funds from the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance and Prevention Fund, the Employment Promotion and Vocational Rehabilitation Fund for Persons with Disabilities, and the Wage Claim Guarantee Fund;

12. Operating and supporting the employment insurance examination system;

13. Formulating and supervising systems and policies related to employment services, such as the management and promotion of the employment service industry;

14. Supporting the establishment and operation of employment security offices;

15. Coordinating between public and private-sector employment services and promoting employment support by local governments;

16. Providing employment support, improving employment opportunities, etc. for the socially disadvantaged class and eligible recipients defined in the National Basic Living Security Act;

17. Managing unemployment benefits and insured status;

18. Developing and operating an employment information system;

19. Creating and promoting an employment culture prioritizing work-life balance, such as flexible working environments;

19-2. Deleted; <Oct. 1, 2025>

20. Statistics on the employment and labor market, such as statistical surveys of employment and labor (including panel surveys), analysis and evaluation of labor market trends, and mid- to long-term workforce demand forecasting.

23. Formulating and implementing policies regarding maternity protection and support for work-family balance;

22. Formulating policies and improving systems regarding the protection of working conditions for female workers;

23. Formulating and operating policies regarding maternity protection and support for work-family balance;

24. Supporting vocational skills development and employment of career-interrupted women.

(4) Deleted. <Dec. 29, 2020>

(5) Deleted. <Dec. 29, 2020>

(6) Deleted. <Dec. 29, 2020>

(7) Deleted. <Apr. 16, 2019>

Article 10-2(Inclusive Employment Policy Bureau) #

(1) The Inclusive Employment Policy Bureau shall have 1 Director General, and 1 Deputy Director General, etc. under the supervision of the Director General. <Amended on Dec. 29, 2020>

(2) The Director General and the 1 Deputy Director General, etc. shall be members in general service of the Senior Executive Service. <Amended on Dec. 29, 2020>

(3) The Director General shall be responsible for the following: <Amended on Aug. 27, 2019; Sep. 7, 2021>

1. Formulating employment measures to tackle low birth rates and an aging population;

2. Formulating and supervising policies and systems related to employment promotion for the aged and prohibition of age discrimination in employment;

3. Formulating and supervising policies and systems related to employment promotion for persons with disabilities and the prohibition of discrimination against them in employment;

4. Supporting the operation and implementation of the mandatory employment system for persons with disabilities;

5. Operating and managing the Employment Promotion and Vocational Rehabilitation Fund for Persons with Disabilities (excluding the operation of surplus funds);

6. Deleted; <Oct. 1, 2025>

7. Deleted; <Oct. 1, 2025>

8. Deleted; <Oct. 1, 2025>

9. Deleted; <Oct. 1, 2025>

10. Formulating and supervising policies to foster and support social enterprises;

11. Supporting social job creation;

11-2. Supervising, coordinating, and supporting youth policies under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Employment and Labor;

12. Operating systems related to youth employment and enacting and amending relevant statutes or regulations;

13. Supervising and coordinating measures to promote youth employment;

14. Formulating and implementing overseas employment support policies for youth;

15. Formulating and implementing support policies for youth employed by small and medium enterprises and middle-standing enterprises;

16. Supervising affairs related to the establishment of a fair recruitment practice;

17. Enacting and amending statutes or regulations related to recruitment procedures;

18. Developing, disseminating, publicizing, and providing education regarding various activities related to vocational career guidance, provision of vocational information, etc.

(4) Deleted. <Dec. 29, 2020>

[This Article Added on Apr. 16, 2019]

[Previous Article 10-2 moved to Article 10-3 <Apr. 16, 2019>]

Article 10-3(Vocational Skills Policy Bureau) #

(1) The Vocational Skills Policy Bureau shall have 1 Director General. <Amended on Jan. 6, 2015>

(2) The Director General shall be a member in general service of the Senior Executive Service. <Amended on Jan. 6, 2015>

(3) The Director General shall be responsible for the following: <Amended on Jan. 6, 2015; Aug. 24, 2015>

1. Supervising, coordinating, and evaluating vocational skills development and training policies;

2. Formulating and coordinating public vocational skills development project plans and managing and supervising public training institutions;

3. Formulating measures to train industrial manpower in key industries, etc., and fostering and supporting manpower development consultative bodies by region and by industry;

4. Developing various vocational skills development courses, such as e-learning, examining vocational skills development training courses, and guiding and inspecting vocational skills development training institutions;

5. Promoting enterprise-led vocational skills development and supporting vocational skills development for employees and job seekers;

6. Establishing and operating a Human Resource Development Network (HRD-Net) and a Qualification Network (Q-Net);

7. Supporting inter-Korean exchanges and international cooperation projects on vocational skills development;

8. Developing and training human resource development experts, such as teachers who provide vocational skills development training;

9. Managing policies to encourage skilled crafts and organizing skills competitions, etc.;

10. Formulating and supervising national technical qualification policies and systems;

11. Developing and utilizing the National Competency Standards;

12. Guiding and supervising institutions entrusted with qualification examinations and managing national professional qualification examinations in an integrated manner;

13. Formulating and implementing measures to enhance qualifications required for projects and private sector qualifications under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Employment and Labor;

14. Formulating and supervising education and training policies and systems tailored to industrial sites;

15. Formulating and operating policies for the work-study combination system and promoting its adoption;

16. Formulating and implementing measures to support companies and employees participating in the work-study combination system.

(4) Deleted. <Jan. 6, 2015>

[This Article Added on Mar. 23, 2013]

[Title Amended on Jan. 6, 2015]

[Moved from Article 10-2 <Apr. 16, 2019>]

Article 11(Labor Policy Office) #

(1) The Labor Policy Office shall have 1 Deputy Minister, and 4 Deputy Director Generals, etc. under the supervision of the Deputy Minister. <Amended on Feb. 24, 2010; Mar. 2, 2011; Mar. 23, 2013; Jan. 6, 2015; Dec. 29, 2020; Oct. 1, 2025>

(2) The Deputy Minister and the 4 Deputy Director Generals, etc. shall be members in general service of the Senior Executive Service. <Amended on Nov. 10, 2009; Feb. 24, 2010; Mar. 2, 2011; Mar. 23, 2013; Jan. 6, 2015; Dec. 29, 2020; Oct. 1, 2025>

(3) The Deputy Minister shall be responsible for the following: <Amended on Mar. 2, 2011; Dec. 5, 2012; Mar. 23, 2013; Jan. 6, 2015; Apr. 16, 2019; Aug. 27, 2019; Oct. 14, 2022; Dec. 13, 2022; Apr. 11, 2023; Jun. 10, 2024; Oct. 1, 2025>

1. General supervision of labor-management policies, and consultation and coordination among relevant central administrative agencies;

2. Social dialogue for the advancement of labor-management relations;

3. Promotion of labor-management cooperation, such as the establishment and operation of a labor-management consultative council;

4. Wage bargaining processes;

5. Education and publicity related to labor-management policy and support for labor-management relation research organizations;

6. Support for labor management in foreign-invested enterprises and improvement of employment and labor environment;

7. Formulation of policies related to labor unions and improvement of related systems;

8. Systems for collective bargaining, labor disputes, and dispute mediation;

9. Operation of the Labor Relations Commissions;

10. Guidance on the establishment and operation of a labor union;

11. Formulation and implementation of measures to prevent unfair labor practices and to stabilize labor-management relations;

12. Support for the prevention, mediation, and resolution of major labor-management disputes, through consultations among relevant central administrative agencies and other methods;

13. Identification and analysis of labor-management relations trends;

14. Formulation and general supervision of policies related to labor standards, such as employment rules and dismissal;

15. Formulation of policies on the minimum wage system and improvement of the system;

16. Labor contract laws;

16-2. Guidance on labor inspectors' duties and enhancement of their capabilities;

16-3. Measures for addressing violations of labor standards-related statutes or regulations, such as the Labor Standards Act, formulation of measures for settlement of unpaid wages, and labor inspection at workplaces;

17. Deleted; <Apr. 11, 2023>

18. Deleted; <Apr. 11, 2023>

19. Operation and improvement of the certified public labor attorney system, and the guidance on, and supervision of, the Korea Certified Public Labor Attorneys Association;

20. Formulation of policies for retirement benefit systems, such as retirement pensions, and improvement of the systems;

21. Formulation of policies and improvement of systems related to the wage claim guarantee system, including the establishment, management, and operation of the Wage Claim Guarantee Fund (excluding the operation of surplus funds);

22. Labor welfare policies, such as the master plan for labor welfare;

23. Guidance on the operation of the intra-company and joint labor welfare funds systems, and the creation and operation of the Labor Welfare Promotion Fund;

24. Formulation and operation of policies to protect fixed-term, part-time, and dispatched employees;

25. Development and operation of policies to protect employees engaged in special types of employment other than those referred to in subparagraph 24;

26. Formulation of policies and improvement of systems for supporting personal work performers and protecting their rights and interests (referring to various types of workers, including special-type workers);

26-2. Deleted; <Oct. 1, 2025>

27. Formulation of policies and improvement of systems to protect working conditions of minor workers;

28. Formulation and operation of policies and systems related to labor-management relations in the public sector, such as the establishment and operation of labor unions in the public sector;

29. Collective bargaining between labor and management in the public sector, support for dispute mediation, and external cooperation related to labor-management relations in the public sector;

30. Identification of labor-management relations trends in the public sector and the implementation of various kinds of education programs;

31. Formulation and overall coordination of policies to secure employment stability for domestic workers and improve their working conditions;

32. Matters relating to collaboration between the central and local governments in labor inspection;

33. Deleted; <Mar. 23, 2013>

33-2. Deleted; <Mar. 23, 2013>

34. Deleted; <Mar. 23, 2013>

35. Deleted; <Mar. 23, 2013>

36. Deleted; <Mar. 23, 2013>

37. Deleted; <Mar. 23, 2013>

38. Deleted; <Mar. 23, 2013>

39. Deleted; <Mar. 23, 2013>

40. Deleted; <Mar. 23, 2013>

41. Deleted; <Mar. 23, 2013>

42. Deleted; <Mar. 23, 2013>

43. Deleted. <Mar. 23, 2013>

(4) Deleted. <Dec. 29, 2020>

(5) Deleted. <Mar. 23, 2013>

(6) Deleted. <Dec. 29, 2020>

(7) Deleted. <Dec. 29, 2020>

[Title Amended on Mar. 2, 2011]

Article 12(Occupational Safety and Health Office) #

(1) The Industrial Safety and Health Headquarters performs the functions of formulating, overseeing, and coordinating policies related to occupational safety and health, industrial accident compensation insurance, and supervision in the field of occupational safety and health.

(2) An Office of Occupational Safety and Health Policy and a Safety and Health Supervision Bureau shall be established in the Industrial Safety and Health Headquarters.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Oct. 1, 2025]

Article 13(Office of Occupational Safety and Health Policy) #

(1) The Office of Occupational Safety and Health Policy shall have 1 Deputy Minister, and 2 Director Generals, etc. under the supervision of the Deputy Minister.

(2) The Deputy Minister and the 2 Deputy Director Generals, etc. shall be members in general service of the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Deputy Minister shall be responsible for the following:

1. Formulation and general supervision of occupational safety and health policies, such as the establishment of occupational safety and health standards;

2. Formulation of, and guidance on, measures to prevent recurrence of industrial accidents, and maintenance of related statistics;

3. Cooperation among labor, management, and government in the field of occupational safety and health;

4. Research on, and development of, technology related to occupational safety and health;

5. Support for the installation and operation of occupational safety and health facilities;

6. Financial and technical support for occupational safety and health;

7. Safety certification, inspection, etc. of hazardous machinery, instruments, facilities, etc.;

8. Provision of necessary support to local governments for the prevention of industrial accidents;

9. Raising awareness of occupational safety and health through education, publicity, etc.;

10. Assistance of business owners, corporations, and institutions in establishing safety and health management systems;

11. Improvement of the working environment and health management and improvement;

12. Prohibition of, permission to use, harmful or dangerous substances;

13. Establishment of standards for classifying and evaluating hazardous factors and exposure thereto;

14. Formulation of policies related to industrial accident compensation insurance, including treatment, compensation, rehabilitation, and examination systems for the insurance;

15. Application and collection of industrial accident compensation insurance;

16. Operation and management of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance and Prevention Fund (excluding the operation of surplus funds);

17. Prevention of pneumoconiosis and the protection of workers suffering from pneumoconiosis;

18. Matters relating to the prevention of industrial accidents for personal work performers.

[This Article Added on Oct. 1, 2025]

Article 13-2(Safety and Health Supervision Bureau) #

(1) The Safety and Health Supervision Bureau shall have 1 Director General.

(2) The Director General shall be a member in general service of the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Director General shall be responsible for the following:

1. General supervision and coordination of, and support for, labor inspections in the field of occupational safety and health;

2. Measures for violations of the statutes or regulations related to occupational safety and health, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act;

3. Capacity building for labor inspectors in the field of occupational safety and health through, such as, guidance and education on their duties;

4. Identification and investigation of trends in industrial accidents;

5. Serious industrial accidents defined in the Serious Accidents Punishment Act;

6. Investigation of the hazards of chemical substances, communication of related information, etc.;

7. Prevention and management of serious industrial accidents, under the Occupational Safety and Health Act;

8. Formulation and implementation of occupational safety and health policies for the construction industry, including the establishment of occupational safety and health standards.

[This Article Added on Oct. 1, 2025]

Article 14(Standing members of the Employment Insurance Appeal Committee) #

The standing members of the Employment Insurance Appeal Committee established under the Ministry of Employment and Labor pursuant to Article 99 of the Employment Insurance Act shall be members in fixed term positions of the Senior Executive Service. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Dec. 11, 2013>

Article 15(Delegation provisions) #

(1) The titles and duties of Deputy Director Generals, etc. assigned to the Ministry of Employment and Labor pursuant to Article 12 of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. <Added on Dec. 29, 2020>

(2) The assisting agencies or auxiliary agencies established under the Ministry of Employment and Labor pursuant to Articles 12(3) and 14(4) of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, not exceeding the Ministry's authorized number of public officials. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Dec. 29, 2020>

Article 16 #

Deleted. <Feb. 29, 2016>

Article 17 #

Deleted. <Feb. 29, 2016>

Article 18 #

Deleted. <Feb. 29, 2016>

Article 19(Duties) #

A Regional Employment and Labor Office shall be responsible for the following: <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Jan. 5, 2021; Feb. 22, 2022>

1. Security and official seal management, receipt and transmission of documents, budgeting, accounting, and settlement of accounts, appointment and salaries of public officials, and other personnel affairs;

2. Approval of the disposition on default and write-off of employment insurance premiums, and the imposition of administrative fines related to employment insurance;

3. Vocational skills development training and vocational skills development projects;

4. Labor supervision, such as the application of the Labor Standards Act and measures in response to violations thereof;

5. Occupational safety and health, including guidance on the prevention of accidents at workplaces and measures in response to violations of the relevant statutes and regulations;

6. Female employees, such as the application of the Equal Employment Opportunity and Work-Family Balance Assistance Act and the improvement of gender-based employment discrimination, etc.;

7. Job security services, such as recruitment, job search, and job placement;

8. Employment permits and management of foreign workers employed in the Republic of Korea;

9. Payment of unemployment benefits, employment stabilization projects, and management of eligibility for employment insurance;

10. Prevention and resolution of labor-management disputes, promotion of labor-management cooperation, and the rational improvement of other labor-management relations;

10-2. Certification, etc. of institutions providing domestic services;

11. Direction and supervision of the affairs of their affiliated branch offices.

Article 20(Names) #

The names and locations of Regional Employment and Labor Offices shall be as specified in Appendix 1, and their jurisdictions shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010>

Article 21(Heads of regional employment and labor offices) #

(1) Each Regional Employment and Labor Office shall have 1 head of office. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010>

(2) The head of a Regional Employment and Labor Office shall be a member in general service of the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The head of a Regional Employment and Labor Office shall exercise overall control over the affairs under his or her jurisdiction under the direction of the Minister of Employment and Labor, and shall direct and supervise public officials under his or her jurisdiction. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010>

[Title Amended on Jul. 12, 2010]

Article 22(Subordinate organizations) #

(1) The assisting agencies or auxiliary agencies established in a Regional Employment and Labor Office pursuant to Articles 12(3) and 14(4) of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, within the scope of the authorized number of public officials assigned to agencies affiliated with the Ministry of Employment and Labor (excluding the Customer Counseling Center of the Ministry of Employment and Labor). <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Feb. 29, 2016>

(2) An Employment Center shall be established separately in a Regional Employment and Labor Office in addition to assisting or auxiliary agencies under paragraph (1), to perform business affairs related to job stabilization. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010>

(3) Necessary matters, such as the name and location of employment centers under paragraph (2), shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010>

Article 23(Branch offices) #

(1) Each branch office shall have 1 head of the branch office.

(2) The head of a branch office shall be of Grade IV or Grade V; provided, the heads of the 4 branch offices prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor may serve as public officials of Grade III or IV, allocated and operated by mutual transfer pursuant to Article 27(3) of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies. <Amended on Dec. 5, 2012>

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the heads of 4 branch offices prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor may be of Grade V, and the head of 1 of the following branch offices may be of Grade IV or V, allocated and operated by mutual transfer pursuant to Article 27(3) of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies. <Added on Dec. 5, 2012; Sep. 23, 2013>

(4) Necessary matters, such as the name, location, and jurisdiction of a branch office, shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Dec. 5, 2012>

Article 24(Local offices) #

(1) A local office may be established and operated under the jurisdiction of the head of a Regional Employment and Labor Office and the head of a branch office to take charge of the affairs under the jurisdiction of the Regional Employment and Labor Office and the branch office. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010>

(2) Each local office shall have a head.

(3) The head of a local office shall be of Grade V or VI.

(4) Necessary matters, such as the name, location, jurisdiction, etc. of a local office shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010>

Article 25(Standing members of the Labor Relations Commission) #

The standing members of the National Labor Relations Commission and the chairpersons of the Regional Labor Relations Commissions or the standing members of the Regional Labor Relations Commissions assigned to the Ministry of Employment and Labor pursuant to Article 11 of the Labor Relations Commission Act shall be members in fixed term positions of the Senior Executive Service. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Dec. 11, 2013>

Article 26(Duties) #

The Secretariat Department of the National Labor Relations Commission (hereafter in this Chapter referred to as the "Secretariat") and the Administrative Bureau of a Regional Labor Relations Commission (hereafter in this Chapter referred to as the "Bureau") shall provide assistance in handling the affairs under the jurisdiction of the Labor Relations Commission under Article 2-2 of the Labor Relations Commission Act and other affairs relating to the operation of the Labor Relations Commission.

Article 27(Secretariat Department) #

(1) The Secretariat Department of the National Labor Relations Commission shall have 1 Secretary General, and 1 Director of the Planning and Management Division and 1 Director General of the Mediation and Adjudication Bureau under the supervision of the Secretary General.

(2) One of the standing members of the National Labor Relations Commission designated by the Minister shall concurrently serve as the Secretary General, and the Director of the Planning and Management Division shall be a public official of Grade III or IV, and the Director General of the Mediation and Adjudication Bureau shall be a member in general service of the Senior Executive Service.

(3) The Secretary General shall exercise overall control over the business affairs of the Secretariat Department under the direction of the Chairperson of the National Labor Relations Commission, and shall direct and supervise the public officials under his or her jurisdiction.

(4) The Director of the Planning and Management Division shall be responsible for the following: <Amended on Jan. 5, 2021>

1. Security and official management, and the receipt and transmission of documents;

2. Budgeting, accounting and settlement of accounts;

3. Appointments, salary, and other personnel affairs of public officials under his or her jurisdiction;

4. Public relations and education related to the affairs under the jurisdiction of the Labor Relations Commission and other matters relating to support for the operation of the Labor Relations Commission.

(5) The Director General of the Mediation and Adjudication Bureau shall be responsible for the following:

1. Business affairs falling under the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Commission under Articles 2-2 and 3 (1) of the Labor Relations Commission Act;

2. Conducting administrative litigation.

Article 28(Administrative Bureau) #

(1) The Administrative Bureau of a Regional Labor Relations Commission shall have 1 Executive Director.

(2) The Executive Director of the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission shall be a public official of Grade III or IV, and the Executive Directors of other Regional Labor Relations Commissions shall be public officials of Grade IV; provided, the Executive Directors of Inchecon, Ulsan, Gangwon, Chungbuk, and Jeonbuk Regional Labor Relations Commissions shall be public officials of Grade V. <Amended on Mar. 2, 2011; Mar. 23, 2013; Feb. 28, 2017>

(3) The Executive Director shall be responsible for the following:

1. Matters referred to in the subparagraphs of Article 27(4);

2. Business affairs falling under the jurisdiction of the Regional Labor Relations Commissions under Articles 2-2 and 3(2) of the Labor Relations Commission Act.

Article 29(Subordinate organization) #

The assisting or auxiliary agencies established in the Mediation and Adjudication Bureau of the National Labor Relations Commission and the Administrative Bureau of a Regional Labor Relations Commission pursuant to Articles 12(3) and 14(4) of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, within the scope of the authorized number of public officials assigned to agencies affiliated with the Ministry of Employment and Labor (excluding the Customer Counseling Center of the Ministry of Employment and Labor). <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Feb. 29, 2016>

Article 30(Standing members of the Minimum Wage Commission) #

The standing members of the Minimum Wage Commission established in the Ministry of Employment and Labor pursuant to Article 14 of the Minimum Wage Act shall be members in fixed term positions of the Senior Executive Service. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Dec. 11, 2013>

Article 31(Duties) #

The Secretariat of the Minimum Wage Commission (hereafter in this Chapter referred to as the "Secretariat") shall handle the affairs necessary for the operation of the Minimum Wage Commission.

Article 32(Executive Director of the Secretariat) #

(1) The Secretariat shall have 1 Executive Director.

(2) The Executive Director shall be of Grade IV or V.

(3) The Executive Director shall exercise overall control over the business affairs of the Secretariat under the direction of the Chairperson of the Minimum Wage Commission, and shall direct and supervise the public officials under his or her jurisdiction.

Article 33(Researchers) #

Researchers to be assigned to the Secretariat pursuant to Article 20(2) of the Minimum Wage Act shall be commissioned by the Minister of Employment and Labor from among the following persons: <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Aug. 9, 2022>

1. A State public official of Grade VI or higher in general service who has been engaged in employment and labor administration for at least 3 years;

2. A person who holds a master's degree or higher in labor economics, labor-management relations, or other related fields, and who has at least 2 years of experience (including experience prior to obtaining the degree) in research on employment and labor issues at a university or an authorized research institute;

3. A person who has the same level of education or work experience as those falling under subparagraphs 1 and 2, and who is recognized by the Minister of Employment and Labor as having abundant knowledge and experience in matters of employment and labor.

Article 34(Allowances) #

Allowances may be paid to researchers within the budget.

Article 35(Standing members of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Reexamination Committee) #

The standing members of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Reexamination Committee established in the Ministry of Employment and Labor pursuant to Article 107 of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act shall be members in fixed term positions of the Senior Executive Service. <Amended on Jul. 12, 2010; Dec. 11, 2013>

Article 36(Duties) #

The Secretariat of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Reexamination Committee (hereafter in this Chapter referred to as the "Secretariat") shall handle the affairs necessary for the operation of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Reexamination Committee.

Article 37(Executive Director of the Secretariat) #

(1) The Secretariat shall have 1 Executive Director.

(2) The Executive Director shall be of Grade III or IV.

(3) The Executive Director shall exercise overall control over the business affairs of the Secretariat under the direction of the chairperson of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Reexamination Committee, and direct and supervise the public officials under his or her jurisdiction.

Article 37-2(Duties) #

The Customer Counseling Center of the Ministry of Employment and Labor shall be responsible for the following; provided, the affairs relating to the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act shall be excluded:

1. Providing telephone-based employment and labor counseling services through a nationwide single contact number;

2. Responding to inquiries about employment and labor submitted online and in writing;

3. Establishing a database of employment and labor counseling cases and collecting matters requiring system improvement through consultations.

[This Article Added on Feb. 29, 2016]

Article 37-3(Subordinate organization) #

(1) The establishment and division of duties for subordinate organizations within the Customer Counseling Center of the Ministry of Employment and Labor shall be prescribed by the basic operational regulations under Article 10 of the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Responsible Administrative Agencies, pursuant to Article 15(2) of that Act.

(2) The authorized number of public officials assigned to the Customer Counseling Center of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, by type and rank, pursuant to the latter part of Article 16(1) of the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Responsible Administrative Agencies shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor by combining them into the authorized number by type, and the authorized number by rank shall be specified in the basic operational regulations under Article 10 of that Act, pursuant to Article 16(2) of the Enforcement Decree of that Act.

[This Article Added on Feb. 29, 2016]

Article 38(Authorized number of public officials assigned to the Ministry of Employment and Labor) #

(1) The authorized number of public officials assigned to the Ministry of Employment and Labor (excluding any temporary authorized number under Article 25(1) of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies; hereafter in this Article the same shall apply) shall be as specified in Appendix 2; provided, if necessary, the authorized number may be prescribed separately by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, not exceeding 10 percent of the total authorized number specified in Appendix 2. <Amended on Mar. 30, 2018; Dec. 29, 2020; Apr. 11, 2023; Aug. 30, 2023; Feb. 27, 2024>

(2) The authorized number of public officials by rank to be assigned to the Ministry of Employment and Labor shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. In such cases, the authorized number of public officials of Grade IV in fixed term positions shall not exceed 1; the authorized number of public officials of Grade IV (including that for public officials of Grade III or IV, but excluding that of Grade IV public officials in fixed term positions) shall not exceed 50; the authorized number of public officials of Grade III or IV shall not exceed 1/3 of the authorized number of Grade IV public officials (including the authorized number of public officials of Grade III or IV, but excluding that of public officials of Grade IV in fixed term positions); and the authorized number of public officials of Grade IV or V shall not exceed 1/3 of the authorized number of Grade V public officials (including that for Grade IV or Grade V public officials). <Amended on Jan. 6, 2015; Feb. 29, 2016; Mar. 30, 2018; Apr. 16, 2019; Jul. 1, 2021; Dec. 13, 2022; Dec. 29, 2023; Jun. 10, 2024; Oct. 1, 2025>

(3) Among vacancies in the authorized number of public officials assigned to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, 1 (Grade V) shall be filled by a public official of the Ministry of Education, 1 (Grade V) by a public official of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and 1 (Grade V) by a public official of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. In such cases, the Minister of Employment and Labor shall have a prior consultation with the head of the relevant agencies on the methods, procedures, etc. for filling vacancies. <Added on Mar. 11, 2014; Jan. 6, 2015; Feb. 25, 2021; Feb. 28, 2023; Oct. 1, 2025>

[Title Amended on Jul. 12, 2010]

Article 39(Authorized number of public officials assigned to affiliated agencies) #

(1) The authorized number of public officials (excluding the temporary authorized number under Article 25(1) of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies; hereafter in this Article the same shall apply) assigned to an agency affiliated with the Ministry of Employment and Labor (excluding the Customer Counseling Center of the Ministry of Employment and Labor; hereinafter the same shall apply) shall be as specified in Appendix 3; provided, if necessary, the authorized number may be separately prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor to the extent of not exceeding 10 percent of the total authorized number specified in Appendix 3. <Amended on Mar. 30, 2018; Dec. 29, 2020; Apr. 11, 2023; Aug. 30, 2023>

(2) The authorized number of public officials to be assigned to an institution affiliated with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, by institution and rank, shall be determined by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. In such cases, the authorized number of public officials of Grade IV (including that for public officials of Grade III or IV) shall not exceed 57; the authorized number of public officials of Grade III or IV shall not exceed 15/100 of the authorized number of public officials of Grade IV (including that for public officials of Grade III or IV); and the authorized number of public officials of Grade IV or V shall not exceed 15/100 of the authorized number of public officials of Grade Vs (including that of public officials of Grade IV or V). <Amended on Jan. 6, 2015; Feb. 29, 2016; Dec. 30, 2025>

(3) Deleted. <Jul. 12, 2010>

Article 40(Special cases concerning open positions) #

Public officials in fixed term positions may be appointed to up to 5 deputy minister-level or director general-level, open positions determined by the Minister of Employment and Labor by order, established rule, or other methods. <Amended on Jan. 6, 2015; Aug. 24, 2015; Aug. 30, 2023>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 11, 2013]

[Title Amended on Aug. 30, 2023]

Article 40-2(Special cases concerning allocation and operation of authorized number of public officials in professional service) #

(1) Notwithstanding Articles 4(2)5, 4-2(2)5, 8-2(1), 23(1), and 24(1) of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies, the authorized number of public officials in professional service under Article 2 of the Regulations on the Personnel Management of Public Officials in Professional Service may be determined by integrating the authorized number of public officials by rank (excluding the authorized number of public officials appointed as heads of divisions or subordinate organizations or affiliated institutions equivalent thereto). In such cases, the prescribed number of public officials in professional service by rank (excluding that of public officials appointed as heads of divisions or subordinate organizations or affiliated institutions corresponding thereto) shall be prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

(2) Public officials in professional service referred to in paragraph (1) shall not be assigned other than to the Labor-Management Cooperation Policy Bureau and the Labor Standards Policy Bureau, which are established under the Labor Policy Bureau, and the Secretariat Department of the National Labor Relations Commission. In such cases, a division or equivalent subordinate organization which has the authorized number of public officials in professional service, shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

(3) Articles 25(1) and 27(2) and (3) (including allocation of authorized number of public officials of central administrative agencies to affiliated institutions under the main clause of paragraph (1) of that Article), Article 29-2 and Article 31 of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies shall not apply to the allocation and operation of the authorized number of public officials in professional service under paragraphs (1) and (2).

[This Article Added on Dec. 31, 2024]

Article 41(Organization subject to evaluation and authorized number of public officials) #

(1) The organizations subject to evaluation, established in the Ministry of Employment and Labor and its affiliated agencies, and the authorized number of public officials under Article 31(1) of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies shall be as specified in Appendix 4.

(2) Details regarding the organization subject to evaluation and the authorized number of public officials under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry Employment and Labor.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 30, 2018]

Article 42 #

Deleted. <Apr. 1, 2025>

Article 42-2(Wages and Working Hours Policy Division) #

(1) A Wages and Working Hours Policy Division shall be established in the Labor Policy Office of the Ministry of Employment and Labor as a temporary organization that continues to exist until April 10, 2027 pursuant to Article 17-3 (1) 1 of the Common Rules of the Organization and the Prescribed Number of Personnel of Administrative Agencies. <Amended on Apr. 1, 2025>

(2) The Wages and Working Hours Policy Division shall have 1 Director, who shall be of Grade IV.

(3) The Director of the Wages and Working Hours Policy Division shall be responsible for the following:

1. Formulation of policies related to wages, working hours, holidays, vacations, and leisure, and improvement of related systems;

2. Interpretation and application of statutes or regulations on wages, working hours, holidays, vacations, and leisure, and identification of current status;

3. Formulation and implementation of measures to ensure that the working hours reduction system is firmly in place in the workplace;

4. Education, publicity, and support for the improvement of long working hours at the workplace;

5. Consultation and coordination among the central administrative agencies related to working hour reduction;

6. Wage policies, such as wage level, wage structure, and wage gap mitigation;

7. Improvement of the wage and duty system, and the performance-based distribution system;

8. Formulation and implementation of policies related to the comprehensive wage system;

9. Protection of working conditions for workers excluded from the application of working hours, holidays, and rest periods, and workers engaged in industries exempt from work hour limits.

(4) The authorized number of public officials assigned to the Wages and Working Hours Policy Division shall be as specified in Appendix 5.

(5) The authorized number of public officials by rank to be assigned to the Wages and Working Hours Policy Division shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

[This Article Added on Apr. 11, 2023]

Article 43 #

Deleted. <Feb. 19, 2026>