[N Job Seekers Are Flocking In] A World Where Even Bosses Become 'N Job Seekers'... Observing 24 Hours

Main Character is a Startup CEO, Sub Character is an Instructor... "I'm a 152-Hour-a-Week Worker"
Company Founded During COVID-19 Earns Less Than 20% of Expected Sales, Leading to Side Job
Displaying Cosmetics and Eating Lunch in the Car... Luckily Secured Lectures

Lee Mo (35), CEO of a cosmetics responsible sales startup, is seen inspecting products at his office in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul. He sometimes splits his working hours to attend online lectures hosted by the Korea IR (Investor Relations) Association at the Korea Exchange in Yeouido, Seoul. In a way, he is a "CEO with multiple jobs." He uses two laptops, one for his main job and another for his side job. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok]

Mr. Lee (35), who has been running a cosmetics sales startup for three years, also holds a business card as a professional lecturer for 'corporate presentations.' Although he is not part of a vulnerable employment group like temporary or daily workers, he sought another source of income by leveraging his experience working in the issuance department of a securities firm after COVID-19 severely impacted his sales.

Mr. Lee switches several times a day between his main job selling cosmetics and his side job giving IR-related lectures. His daily routine, which starts at 6 a.m., only ends at 1 a.m. the next day.

Displaying New Products at Famous Department Stores... Checking Performance Even While Washing Up After Work

CEO Lee uses two monitors just like when he worked at a securities firm. He says having two monitors makes it easier to work on product design and review reports. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

On the 6th, his day began at 6 a.m. After getting ready for work, he arrived at his cosmetics sales startup office in Gasan-dong, Seoul, at 7 a.m. It was an important day with a task to complete an event displaying new products at two major department stores in Seoul. He spent the morning busily checking logistics before the new products arrived at 1:30 p.m., arranging display locations, assigning staff for product intake, and preparing explanatory materials to show department store employees.

Mr. Lee, who worked at a securities firm, became interested in cosmetics sales and entered the startup world in 2019. Within less than two years of founding his company, he added another job. However, he did not initially plan to have a side job. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the economy to freeze, putting his startup in difficulty and prompting him to look for additional work.

Mr. Lee said, "After the COVID-19 outbreak, sales from my main job selling cosmetics were only about 20% of what I had expected," adding, "Because my income was unstable and to maintain my career, I chose to take on the job of a 'lecturer' as an additional occupation."

"Even After COVID Ends, a 'Second Job' Is Necessary... Before Hiring New Employees, the CEO Must Take on Multiple Jobs"

This is a scene of CEO Lee giving a non-face-to-face lecture for the Korea IR Association. Since the lecture is aimed at financial officers of listed companies, it is said that materials must be prepared thoroughly. After the lecture, he meets separately with chief financial officers (CFOs) of listed companies and arranges future meeting schedules. (Photo by CEO Lee)

After finishing his IR lecture and a brief conversation with stakeholders at 5 p.m., while employees were leaving for the day, he returned to his main job. He stayed alone in the office to check the inspection details and intake status of new cosmetics products in the logistics warehouse. Monitoring changes in logistics costs due to increased delivery fees starting next month is also a task for the startup CEO.

Even after returning home late at night, work continues. He organizes lecture materials and reviews company brochures and business conditions. Testing new cosmetics products is also his responsibility after work. To prepare for expansion into Japan, he examines competitors' products listed on local e-commerce sites, as this helps determine the pricing of his company's products to be sold on Japanese online shopping malls.

When asked about his daily routine, Mr. Lee said, "Although working hours are limited to 52 hours per week, it feels like I am working 152 hours a week."

When asked if it would be difficult to continue his side job due to the hardship, he shook his head. Mr. Lee said, "The situation is so bad that the CEO must be ready to take on multiple jobs before hiring new employees," adding, "The financial pressure is as urgent as that faced by full-time and part-time workers."

He continued, "It is quite difficult for startup CEOs who are not making profits to get loans," and shared, "Other startup CEOs around me have taken on tutoring as a side job after their companies' profitability declined."