South Korea's Lee: AI in workplaces unavoidable

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung told trade union officials Thursday that the spread of AI in workplaces cannot be avoided, urging labor groups to help develop worker protections rather than resist the technology outright. The meeting at Cheong Wa Dae included 24 officials from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. Union chairman Yang Kyung-soo warned that physical AI could eliminate jobs entirely, not just transform them, and called for broader policy responses covering social safety nets and labor rights. Lee acknowledged risks but pointed to smart factories as an example where automation ultimately increased demand for skilled workers.