최저임금제의 역설, 과연 역설인가? ― 최저임금제의 초기 입법 논의에 대한 역사적 고찰을 중심으로 ―

Since the introduction of the Minimum Wage Act in Korea in 1986, considerable debate has surrounded its proper implementation. Following significant minimum wage hikes enacted by the Obama administration in the United States and the Moon Jae-in administration in South Korea, the debate over the minimum wage system intensified, with particular attention paid to the phenomenon termed the “minimum wage system paradox.” Despite active discussion regarding the challenges posed by this paradox, there appears to be a paucity of discourse on the fundamental questions that must precede an explanation for its occurrence and the development of preventative measures. These essential questions include: What precisely constitutes the “paradox of the minimum wage law”? Why is this phenomenon labeled a “paradox”? Does it genuinely represent a “paradox” of the minimum wage system, or does it merely reflect an inherent outcome of such a system? This paper aims to address these critical and pressing questions by examining various legislative policies and pertinent literature from the period of the minimum wage system's inception and initial implementation. Specifically, this study will first delineate the current understanding of the minimum wage system's meaning, explicit purpose, and anticipated effects, as well as the definition of the “minimum wage system paradox.” Subsequently, it will undertake a historical review of early legislative discussions on the minimum wage system, with a particular focus on Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Through these observations, this paper seeks to provide answers to the aforementioned fundamental questions.