[Report] "No Energy to Stand Up..." Cleaning Worker at Seoul National University Tries Solving Exam Papers

Seoul National University Cleaning Worker Dies Amid 'Gapjil' Allegations... Worked All Day Cleaning and Took Exams
Our Reporter Cleaned Restrooms, Sorted Trash, Removed Weeds, and Took Exams
"Write Organization Name in English" Anxiety Over 'Work Undervaluation Self-Censorship' Despite No Job Relevance
Ministry of Employment and Labor "Focusing Investigation on Workplace Harassment in Seoul National University Cleaning Worker's Death"

Regarding the allegations of power harassment by cleaning workers at Seoul National University, the government stated that it is being viewed as 'workplace bullying.' The reason is that there are aspects beyond regular duties. Reporter Kim Seohyun is sorting garbage. Photo by Yoon Seulgi, intern reporter seul97@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporters Seunggon Han, Seulgi Yoon, and Seohyun Kim] "You'll be drenched in sweat, are you sure that outfit is okay?"

On the 14th, when the perceived temperature soared to 33 degrees Celsius, we visited Seoul National University (SNU) to investigate the alleged power abuse against cleaning workers and to personally perform cleaning tasks and solve the controversial exam questions. This was to determine whether the exam questions were directly related to janitorial work. The bereaved family raised their voices, calling it clear power abuse and demanding that such incidents never happen again.

We pledged not to interfere with the workers while reporting and joined the cleaning tasks. The cleaning workers start their shifts at 6:30 a.m., but almost no one arrives exactly on time.

Worker A murmured, "I come in about an hour early every day to finish cleaning the restrooms before the students arrive." The head of the Seoul General Labor Union SNU Facilities Branch said, "We do shadow labor," adding, "We work silently in places unseen by students."

Regarding the allegations of abuse of power by cleaning workers at Seoul National University, the government emphasized that it is being regarded as 'workplace harassment.' Reporter Yoon Seul-gi is cleaning the toilet bowl in the restroom. Photo by Kim Seohyun, intern reporter ssn3592@asiae.co.kr

◆ Mirrors, sinks, toilet paper holders, toilets... endless mopping

On that day, the press arrived at SNU at 7 a.m. and participated in cleaning tasks including △restrooms △building exterior cleaning and weeding △waste sorting. First, we were assigned to restroom cleaning.

Worker B from the Second Engineering Building handed the reporter a blue mop. The mop felt heavier than expected in one hand. After just over a minute of mopping, a dull ache already spread across one shoulder.

B said, "If your shoulder hurts already, that's no good," explaining that they have to clean the women's and men's restrooms as well as the hallways both in the morning and afternoon. After cleaning a restroom about 4 pyeong (approx. 13.2 square meters), sweat beaded on the forehead.

Many areas had to be cleaned with a hand cloth rather than a mop. They cleaned mirrors, sinks, toilet paper holders, toilets, and in men's restrooms, urinals and the partitions beside them thoroughly. For toilets, they squatted to wipe the toilet seats and covers. They pushed and wiped away black grime around the toilet until it was gone.

Although the work itself was simple?washing cloths, wiping, and restocking supplies?simple did not mean easy. Because they wrung out the cloths as much as possible before use, their wrists ached. B complained, "I wash and wipe about a hundred times a day; my wrists never get a break."

Cleaning workers' deaths have prompted Seoul National University students to call for a fact-finding investigation. Through posters, the students appealed to prevent further deaths of workers. Photo by Yoon Seulgi, intern reporter seul97@asiae.co.kr

◆ Suffocating heatwave, foul odor from food waste... even weeding tasks

We went outside the building to pull weeds. The building exterior had no air conditioning or fans, and just standing there was exhausting. Looking around, weeds were growing thickly along the edges of the building.

Squatting under the scorching sun brought on dizziness. C said, "Since the accident, the school often instructs us to finish outdoor tasks by noon. But since there are many tasks, it's actually difficult."

C also revealed that using the elevator inside the building was practically impossible. "The elevator is located at the far end of the building. It's so far that we basically don't use it," he complained. When the reporter counted steps from the cleaning area to the elevator, it was about 90 steps for an adult. This means they carry trash and walk this distance daily instead of comfortably using the elevator.

We started trash cleaning tasks with worker B. Although we emptied the trash bins once, there was still a lot of trash. Sorting through the trash bags, the foul smell from food waste hit our noses. Clothes soaked with sweat, heavy breathing up to the chin, and the added stench made it impossible not to say "this is tough."

We learned how to handle small trash by lining boxes with newspaper and moved accordingly. The trash included not only simple paper and plastic but also heavy items like discarded air purifiers.

B said that when trash is too heavy, he asks male coworkers for help. He said the working welfare environment was better than expected; although the official break room is somewhat far outside the building, there is a makeshift break room which he finds satisfactory.

The exam papers that Seoul National University cleaning workers actually took, reviewed firsthand by a reporter. Due to the exhausting labor, the questions did not catch their attention. Photo by Yoon Seul-gi, intern reporter seul97@asiae.co.kr

◆ Taking exams in sweat-soaked clothes... exhausted from hard cleaning labor, exam questions barely registered

After finishing restroom cleaning, trash sorting, and weeding, the work was not over. We received the exam paper involved in the 'power abuse' allegations.

This exam paper was the one that the late cleaning worker Mr. Lee had attempted last month. After repeatedly washing hand cloths and exerting full strength to push the mop, he could barely hold a pen.

Despite diligently performing all tasks assigned as a 'cleaning worker,' having to complete an unrelated task like an 'exam' was stressful. Physically exhausted, he could not focus on the exam questions. Naturally, he scored zero.

The problem was the anxiety about whether receiving such a low score would label him as a 'low performer' in future evaluations. It was a form of self-censorship.

He had to work and study to solve exam questions, making it a relentless sequence of tasks. This is why many criticize the exam itself as unrelated to work and a form of power abuse, sparking social outrage.

Experts criticized the exam as a form of worker disciplining. Senior Researcher Seongjae Cho of the Korea Labor Institute said, "It appears to be a lowly method to discipline workers. Regardless of the content of the questions, requiring a written exam from cleaning workers, who are low-skilled and low value-added, is unreasonable." He added, "For cleaning workers, there is little room for wage differentiation, and monitoring through diligence or cleaning condition checks seems appropriate, but the nature of the work was not considered."

Meanwhile, the government is investigating the alleged power abuse against SNU cleaning workers and is effectively viewing it as workplace harassment. Employment and Labor Minister Kyungduk Ahn stated on the 14th regarding the death of the SNU cleaning worker amid 'workplace harassment' allegations, "There were parts beyond normal duties, so we are considering it workplace harassment."

Minister Ahn said at the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee plenary session in response to independent lawmaker Miyang Yoon's question, "The Ministry of Employment and Labor is investigating workplace harassment." He added, "Since the day after this fact was reported in the media, we have met with the employer (SNU) and the labor side (bereaved family and union). Based on the investigation, we will deliver improvement measures to SNU. If improvements are not made, we will consider special labor supervision."

Currently, SNU is investigating the cleaning worker power abuse allegations through the university's Human Rights Center. The union insists on conducting its own investigation and is at odds with the school. SNU requested trust in the Human Rights Center, stating it is a fully independent organization and asked to wait for the investigation results.

The student council and graduate student council issued official apologies and called for prevention of recurrence regarding the death of the dormitory cleaning worker.