Lee Jae-myung Visits Site of Janitor's Death in Tears
"Victim Cosplay is Disgusting," to Student Dean
"You May Say That"
On Facebook: "No One Is Born to Suffer"
[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, shed tears on the 11th during his visit to Seoul National University, where controversy over power abuse arose following the death of a cleaning worker. Lee requested the school to allow cleaning workers to participate in the fact-finding investigation process.
Hong Jung-min, spokesperson for the Open Camp, said, "The husband reportedly went to work every day with his wife. Now he has no choice but to go alone, and he cries every time he goes to work," adding, "Lee Jae-myung cried a lot after hearing that. Seven years ago, his younger sister was a cleaning worker who passed away in a restroom. He couldn’t hold back his tears as it reminded him of that time."
On the same day, Lee met with the bereaved family of the cleaning worker Lee (59, female), who died last month at Gwanak Student Dormitory, and Yeo Jeong-seong, Vice President of Education at Seoul National University, at the memorial space set up at Seoul National University. During the meeting, Lee urged the school to conduct a fact-finding investigation that the parties involved could accept. He particularly emphasized that allowing fellow cleaning workers to participate in the investigation would ensure that many people could agree with any conclusion reached. Lee also stated at the meeting, "Above all, this incident is a matter for our society to reconsider human dignity and the respectful treatment of workers."
On the 8th, Lee posted on his Facebook, "No one is born to suffer," and "I hope the news is not true." Along with this, he shared an article about the cleaning worker Lee (59), who was found dead last month in a break room at Seoul National University.
According to the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Lee was left in a harsh working environment, carrying 6 to 7 bags of 100ℓ garbage daily. It was also claimed that the newly appointed dormitory safety management team leader abused power by making her take English and Chinese character tests unrelated to cleaning duties. The test papers released by the union included questions such as "The year our organization first opened," "The completion year of Building 919," and "Write Gwanak Student Dormitory in English or Chinese characters."
Lee said, "This is not just a problem of one malicious manager," and added, "It is a deeply rooted dual structure of labor, a workplace where people can treat others carelessly, and a structural problem of a society where this is tolerated." He also wrote, "Looking at the photo of the crookedly written answer sheet, a burning sensation rises in my throat."
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