Yoon Seok-yeol's '120-Hour Work Controversy'? ... Saying Exceptions Should Be Made to the 52-Hour Workweek System

Support Rate Decline: "We Must Remain Composed"

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who declared his candidacy for the presidential election, is paying respects at the 2.28 Democracy Movement Memorial Tower in Dalseo-gu, Daegu, on the morning of the 20th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who has emerged as a presidential candidate from the opposition, sparked controversy with his remark that "one should work intensely for 120 hours a week and then be able to rest freely." He clarified, "I did not mean that people should work 120 hours instead of 52 hours," adding, "I meant that depending on the type of work, labor hours should be adjustable through agreements between labor and management."

On the 20th, after touring Daegu Seomun Market, Yoon explained to reporters, "I heard that political opponents are distorting my words as if I said people should work 120 hours a week, but that is not worth even a moment's consideration."

He further explained, "Even if the average working hours are 52 hours per month, quarter, or six months, I hope there can be exceptions to allow for concentrated work."

Earlier, in an interview reported that day, Yoon described the '52-hour workweek system' as a "failed policy." He said, "When I met young startup entrepreneurs, they complained that exceptions should be made to the 52-hour workweek system so that workers can agree on or choose their conditions," adding, "They said they want to work intensely for 120 hours a week and then rest freely."

Regarding Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, stating that Yoon's approval ratings have recently declined because he has not joined the party, Yoon responded, "Approval ratings reflect public opinion at any given time, so it is right to always pay attention and listen carefully. However, politicians should be more composed and not be swayed or overly affected by surveys conducted daily or weekly, in order to maintain consistent politics that look only to the people."

Meanwhile, on the same day, Yoon visited Daegu for the first time since his political declaration to solidify conservative support. After paying respects at the 2.28 Democracy Movement Memorial Tower in Dalseo-gu, Daegu, he met with key figures who resisted the dictatorship of the Rhee Syngman regime and visited Seomun Market to meet merchants.

In the afternoon, he plans to visit the Dongseong-ro area to hold a meeting with self-employed business owners facing difficulties and visit the startup nurturing space, the ‘Creative Economy Innovation Center.’