Pyeongtaek: A local association of semiconductor firms has called for revised rules to allow more flexible working hours, emphasizing the need to boost South Korea's global competitiveness. "To strengthen the industry's competitiveness, South Korea must expand working hour options for workers and companies, as seen in the United States and Japan," Kim Jung-hoi, vice chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA), stated during a recent conference. According to Yonhap News Agency, the event was hosted by KSIA at a Samsung Electronics Co. plant in Pyeongtaek, located approximately 65 kilometers south of Seoul. It was attended by Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo and officials from major chipmakers, such as Samsung and SK hynix Inc. A primary concern raised was the country's 52-hour workweek system, which restricts employees to 40 regular hours and 12 hours of overtime per week. "Our current working hours system lacks flexibility for specialized fields like semiconductor research and development (R and D)," said Kim Hee-sung, a professor at Kangwon National University School of Law. He stressed that R and D often requires intensive labor, which clashes with existing labor regulations. "Given the special nature of semiconductor R and D and its critical role in enhancing global competitiveness, it is time to discuss granting flexibility," he added. Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo acknowledged the industry's significance and expressed his intention to find ways to support the semiconductor sector, which is a cornerstone of South Korea's economy.