[CARD NEWS: Opinion] “Can you endure 25 hours of working?”
1) “Do you see the employee behind you working at the office? That guy has been working for 25 hours now. What do you think about that?”
A jobseeker in his 20s recently went to a long-awaited job interview. He tried to do his best throughout the interview session, until he was asked the very last question.
2) He was speechless after hearing the question, and the interviewers start laughing. With only awkwardness lingering, the interview was called off and he heard nothing from the company afterward.
3) The poor working conditions of Korea have long been recognized as a serious problem.. However, nothing has been improved and working young adults, who are in junior positions, have no choice but to bear the excessive workload.
4) Recently, a movement against excessively long working hours is growing after the tragic death of a producer at CJ E&M came to light. The producer, Lee Han-bit, took his own life last year as he could not escape from the pressure of personal affairs, insults and excessive workload.
5) Lee’s suicide caused uproar. Many people called for a public apology from the company, and some took to the streets to commemorate the late Lee. Not only did his death enrage people, it also gave people a chance to speak up.
6) Following the incident, a number of instances of workplace abuse were unveiled. Lee’s death brought out many people’s empathy. This tragic case is not only the story of the late Lee, but applies to many working young adults in Korea.
7) Average working hours per week : 53 hours
Weekly working time regulations: 40 hours
According to a survey by employment website Job Korea, 76.6 percent of the respondents said, “My working hours are too long.” Most of the companies were found to exceed the legal working time limits.
8) “Lives with relaxing evenings”
This catchy slogan during the 2012 presidential election campaign focused on enhancing the quality of life. Such an idea may sound normal, but it was imaginary in reality.
9) Five years have passed since then, but few things have changed.
Excessive working hours has been maintaining on the same level. To make things worse, social recognition of working conditions hasn’t improved either.
10) In Korea, enjoying a relaxing evening time is a luxurious thing. Working overtime is prevalent here. People often sarcastically mock their situation, describing themselves “livestock of the companies.” The term is ridiculous, yet it reflects the workers’ suffering.
11) “I will create 20.4 million job positions while complying with the 52 hour weekly working time limit.” - Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party
“I will get rid of unpaid or delayed payment of wages.” - Ahn Cheol-soo of the People’s Party
“To reduce the working hours, I will guarantee people leaving the office on time and put limits on permissible overdue working hours per year.” - Yoo Seung-min of the Bareun Party
As the presidential election nears, major candidates came up with pledges to reduce working hours.
12) Such promises have been repeated every election season, but the changes never came.
The working young adults are still enduring their lives without having enjoyable evenings.
13) To some people, having a relaxing evening might sound normal and be taken for granted. To the workers in Korea, however, such life is a luxurious dream.
We want to ask…
Will the proposal to improve working conditions be realized?
Will we be able to consider relaxing evening time normal in five years, when the next election season nears?
Or,
will the candidates running for the next presidential election repeat more empty promises?
Directed by Lee Jeong-bong
Constructed by Kim Min-pyo
Designed by Bae Seok-yeong
Translated by Son Min-young
Edited by James Constant
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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