The Fourth Industrial Revolution, Human Labor and Human Rights

Abstract

Korea finds itself in the era of disruptive technological transformation known as the fourth industrial revolution(4IR). What impacts will these revolutionary changes cause in our society from the perspective of work and human rights? This study explores previous technological upheavals and concomitant social changes and compares them with the 4IR. The results of this study suggest that the 4IRs impact on work and human rights requires a new paradigm of social innovation that goes beyond current discussions focusing on losses or gains in employment. This new governance paradigm must take into consideration the fact that the transition costs of past technological advances have created new types of vulnerable workforces and this trauma has catalyzed a wide scope of social changes.