Domestic workers’ avoidance of the shipbuilding industry, stemming from low wages, harsh working conditions, frequent industrial accidents, and an uncertain future, cannot be resolved with quick or superficial solutions. This study highlights the importance of examining the perspectives of workers who possess firsthand knowledge of the industry's realities. Gathering their opinions on crisis resolution and policy responses is a critical step toward revitalizing and ensuring the sustainable development of South Korea’s shipbuilding sector. In particular, this study applies the Q methodology to categorize and analyze subjective perceptions regarding how to resolve the ongoing crisis and formulate appropriate policy responses. The analysis identified four distinct perception profiles: (1) a group supporting the systematic utilization of foreign labor grounded in communication and exchange; (2) a group expecting government intervention to reduce disparities between primary contractors and subcontractors; (3) a group emphasizing research-driven approaches to improve public perception and attract youth participation; and (4) a group prioritizing stakeholder engagement, communication, and coordination through mutual trust. These four perception types and their respective characteristics offer critical foundational insights for understanding diverse viewpoints on the shipbuilding crisis and for facilitating constructive dialogue among labor, management, government, and civil society.
Hyun Gyu Oh (Thu,) studied this question.