I extend a heartfelt welcome to you, all visiting to the web-site of the Economic and Social Development Commission (ESDC).

The Economic and Social Development Commission plays an important role as a social dialogue body that labor, management and the government make consultations for labor related industrial, economic and social policies.

The Commission was set up in January 1998 during the IMF regime and reached the Social Pact to Overcome the Economic Crisis in February 1998. Since then, the Commission has much contributed to democratic and economic development and social integration by reaching many tripartite agreements for labor, economic and social fields.

In particular, with the global economic and financial crisis was arising, the Commission reached the Agreement by Labor, Management, Civic groups and the Government to Overcome the Economic Crisis in February 2009. The economic crisis in Korea ended in an early stage due to burden sharing and joint efforts of labor, management, civic groups and the government as the spirit of the Agreement goes forward.

Recently, the Commission played a critical role in forming an atmosphere that social dialogue is important to discuss major labor pending issues such as multiple unions and payment for full time union's officials etc.

The Commission will make efforts to work out job creation, which is a most pressing issue in our society, and equitably and efficiently improve both division and gap between large and small companies, regular and not-regular workers, the aged and the young through social dialogue.

The Commission will actively produce agenda ranging from stability of industrial relations, reforms on rules and regulations, innovation of labor market, social integration and construction of sustainable society, and will try to turn them into reality through tripartite consultations.

We have been turning crises and challenges into many a new opportunity through grand compromises of the economic and social actors. These tripartite efforts are very important experiences and priceless social assets. Based on this perception, it is highly time for us to develop social dialogue as an important tool for achieving growth and prosperity and moving forward a leading country by just going over the role in overcoming the economic crisis.

As a part of these efforts, we will try to realize social dialogue in which the people participate together, widely reflecting opinions through open window of the Internet.

I look forward to your active participation.