[Summary] "Get Paid Without Working" Jo Hee-yeon’s Slip Sparks Controversy... 'Condemnation' Petitions Also Emerge

Cho Hee-yeon apologizes for remark "Regular staff get paid without working"
Petition appears asking "Who is the 'group that gets paid without working'?"

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Education for Seoul, visited the Seongbuk-Gangbuk Education Support Office in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, on the 13th to hold a meeting to support students affected by the school opening delay due to COVID-19.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Jo Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, apologized on the 15th after causing controversy by referring to regular full-time teachers as the "group that gets paid even if they don't work" during a discussion on whether it was necessary to delay the start of the school term further on his Facebook. However, the controversy has not subsided, as a petition condemning Superintendent Jo's remarks was posted on the citizen petition board of the Open Superintendent's Office website.

On the previous day (the 15th), Superintendent Jo posted on his Facebook asking whether it was necessary to delay the school opening once more. While exchanging opinions with citizens and netizens in the comments, he stated, "In schools, there are 'groups that get paid even if they don't work' and 'groups that do not get paid if they don't work,' and if the latter group faces an additional delay in school opening, urgent measures are needed."

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, apologized on the 15th after causing controversy over "division" by leaving a comment saying, "There is a group that gets paid even if they don't work at school." / Photo by Cho Hee-yeon, Facebook capture

Superintendent Jo's remark was intended to highlight the need for livelihood measures for school non-regular workers who cannot receive wages when schools close for vacations or other reasons. However, it was interpreted as implying that regular full-time teachers get paid even if they do not work, sparking controversy.

As the controversy continued, Superintendent Jo apologized around 8 p.m. on the same day, saying, "I sincerely apologize for using expressions that could cause problems," and added, "It was my fault that came out of the concerns over various issues that needed to be adjusted regarding the delay of school opening."

He further explained the meaning of his earlier remarks, saying, "Superintendents and public officials receive salaries regardless of the amount of work, so their lives remain stable despite COVID-19, but supplementary measures are needed for the shadowed parts such as self-employed people and non-regular workers who are not in that position."

Photo by Jo Hee-yeon, Open Office of the Superintendent of Education

However, the controversy surrounding Superintendent Jo's remarks continues. On the afternoon of the previous day (the 15th), a petition titled "We demand an explanation from the Superintendent regarding the 'group that gets paid even if they don't work' posted on Facebook" was posted on the 'Jo Hee-yeon's Open Superintendent's Office' website, where citizens can submit proposals.

The petitioner stated, "We demand a clear explanation regarding the 'group that gets paid even if they don't work' and the 'group that does not get paid if they don't work' posted on the Superintendent's Facebook page on the night of the 15th," and added, "Given that the Superintendent holds such views about the school field as read in the context of the post, there is serious concern about morale deterioration among those responsible for school education depending on who the remarks are directed at." The petition had over 8,800 participants by past midnight on the 16th.