President Yoon Suk-yeol of South Korea has raised concerns regarding the failure of local governments to enforce adequate wage regulations for environmental workers. During a senior aides meeting held on the 19th, he instructed that thorough checks, including audits, be conducted to understand the current situation. This directive came after it was reported that certain municipalities were not adequately sharing or enforcing established wage guarantees, leading to environmental workers being paid less than the prescribed amounts. Yoon emphasized the importance of holding accountable those responsible for this issue and ensuring any unpaid wages are swiftly distributed.

In addition to addressing wage discrepancies, President Yoon reiterated the need for a fair and reasonable social order that promotes collective economic growth. He signaled an ongoing commitment to tackle issues of inequality and corruption, particularly in the housing sector. Having previously called for an end to preferential treatment for multiple property owners via social media during the Lunar New Year, this meeting marked the continuation of his focus on real estate market normalization, identifying real estate speculation as a key national agenda item.

Furthermore, Yoon expressed concern over the deep-rooted anti-competitive practices prevalent across various sectors of the economy, including basic commodities like sugar and flour, as well as real estate. He advocated for the elimination of such malpractices to facilitate a qualitative leap in the economy. The president proposed that penalties for collusion need to be significantly strengthened, suggesting that concrete economic sanctions be implemented rather than merely pursuing formal criminal penalties, and hinted at the need for possible permanent market exclusions for repeat offenders, urging a proactive government response to these issues.