Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate, noted on the 18th that "the yellow envelope law is recognized by the Supreme Court and the International Labour Organization (ILO), so it should naturally be enacted."

People Power Party Kim Moon-soo (right) and Democratic Party of Korea Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidates, are waiting for the start at the first candidate debate for the 21st presidential election held at the SBS Prism Center studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul on Jan. 18. /Courtesy of Yonhap

On the same day, during the first TV debate among presidential candidates in the afternoon, Lee answered a question from Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party candidate, asking, "If you become president, do you plan to push through the yellow envelope law?" Lee stated that he intends to reintroduce the yellow envelope law, which the Yoon Suk-yeol administration has vetoed twice.

In response, Kim argued, "There are aspects that do not comply with the Constitution and civil law and parts that cannot be established by contract, and if it is pushed through forcefully, it will essentially become difficult to do business in our country. (In practice) it can demand disputes from those who do not operate corporations, so it should be reconsidered."

In turn, Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party targeted Kim, asking, "Is the law that requires compensation claims based on one's own responsibilities an evil law?" and stated, "Kim used to say that the yellow envelope law symbolized the labor movement, but now he calls it an evil law; it makes no sense. What has happened to the Minister of Employment and Labor?"