'Going to Work Even in War'... Reexamining the 'Sorrows' of K-Employees

Subway Flooded by Heavy Rain... Office Worker Caught Rolling Up Pants and Heading to Platform
Netizens Praise Calm Response as "Extreme Commute of K-Office Workers"
Concerns Over Electric Shock and Slips... "Sad to See Commuting Despite Natural Disaster"

On the 29th, as the rainy season continues, office workers are heading to work holding umbrellas near City Hall Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] "Heavy rain? I still have to go to work."

Due to the sudden rise in water levels caused by heavy rain during the monsoon season, flooding damage occurred one after another, causing disruptions in transportation for citizens. However, even amid such flooding, scenes of office workers struggling to get to work were captured. Reactions ranged from admiration for their strong sense of responsibility to concerns about their safety.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, by the morning of the 30th of last month, rain fell at a rate of over 50mm per hour mainly in Seoul and southern Gyeonggi Province. At one point, as the rain cloud band moved northward, rain fell at a rate of 20 to 40mm per hour mainly in Incheon and northern Gyeonggi Province. In particular, some areas of the metropolitan area experienced flooding damage due to heavy rain throughout the night.

However, the heavy rain did not stop office workers from commuting. At Seryu Station on Line 1 in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province, the underground passage was flooded with water rising to ankle height due to rainwater rushing in, but citizens, as if it were natural, took off their shoes and socks and rolled up their pants to their knees as they headed to the platform.

Photos capturing this scene were shared on social media under the title "Current status of Line 1 Seryu Station." Although there was a risk of slipping, electric shock, or stepping on broken glass on the floor, netizens reacted to the calm response of workers heading to their jobs with comments such as "Extreme commute of K-office workers" and "The hardships of office workers."

On the other hand, voices expressing concern about accidents such as electric shocks and slipping continued. Office worker Kim (25) said, "I understand the mindset of office workers heading to work even in flooding situations," but added, "I'm worried about why they go to work barefoot risking electric shock. It's sad to see office workers who must go to work no matter the natural disaster."

A scene from Coupang Play's 'SNL Korea' parody 'Now Our Company,' based on 'Now Our School.' Office workers turned into zombies are visiting the company and scanning QR codes to work. Photo by Coupang Play YouTube capture.

◆ Whether it snows or rains... offices where you have to go to work even when sick

In March, Coupang Play's 'SNL Korea' released 'Our Company Now,' a parody of the Netflix original drama 'All of Us Are Dead,' famous for its K-zombie theme. The setting is that office workers, infected by a zombie virus spreading worldwide and having lost their sanity, still go to work as usual. The episode was created based on the joke that "even if there is a war, Korean office workers go to work."

Viewers who watched it responded with mixed feelings of laughter and sadness. Netizen A said, "The scene where a zombified office worker goes to work during a disaster and spits in the boss's coffee showed the hardships of office workers," adding, "It was funny but also sad because it reflected reality well." In fact, most office workers choose to go to work even when weather conditions are bad, such as heavy snow or rain, or even when they are not feeling well. This is because they feel pressured not to take their own vacation days.

However, since the large-scale spread of COVID-19, interest in health has increased, and voices advocating for the right to take sick leave have gained momentum, signaling a change.

Accordingly, the government has also taken steps to guarantee the "right to take sick leave." The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters announced that from the 4th of this month until June next year, a pilot program for sickness benefits will be operated in six locations: Jongno-gu in Seoul, Bucheon-si in Gyeonggi Province, Cheonan-si in Chungnam, Suncheon-si in Jeonnam, Pohang-si in Gyeongbuk, and Changwon-si in Gyeongnam. Sickness benefits are a system that guarantees a certain level of income so that workers can rest and receive treatment when it is difficult to work due to illness or injury unrelated to work.

This year, 43,960 won will be paid daily, applying 60% of the minimum wage. Eligible recipients are all employed persons residing in the pilot areas who cannot receive paid leave during their sick leave. The government plans to observe the pilot program's results until June next year and then introduce the full system after legal amendments in the National Assembly.

The National Human Rights Commission also expressed the opinion that related systems should be legislated to guarantee the "right to take sick leave." On the 27th, the Human Rights Commission recommended to the Minister of Employment and Labor that the "right to take sick leave" is currently limited to work-related illnesses and that legislation should be pursued so that all wage workers can use leave or take time off for non-work-related illnesses.

The Human Rights Commission explained, "Currently, sick leave or time off for non-work-related illnesses for wage workers who are not public officials or teachers is determined at the discretion of employers or through negotiations between labor and management," adding, "As a result, very few private workplaces operate sick leave systems for non-work-related illnesses, leading to polarization in the right to rest."