"Is Poverty Due to Lack of Working Hours?" Seoul National University Student Criticizes 69-Hour Workweek

School Anonymous Community Post Sparks Attention

A Seoul National University student has drawn attention with a sharp critique of the government's recent announcement of the 'Working Hours System Reform Plan.'

On the 15th, a post titled "Articles defending 69-hour workweeks are disgusting" was published on the university student community 'Everytime.'

The author, identified as A, pointed out, "They write stories about people suffering from financial hardship and say 'Because of the 52-hour workweek system, people want to work more but can't.'" He added, "People work 52 hours a week (full work from Monday to Saturday plus about two days of overtime), yet the solution offered to those struggling financially is just 'Then work more'?"

[Image source=Pixabay]

He continued, "Shouldn't we first examine whether there are problems in the social distribution system, whether vulnerable groups are left in welfare blind spots, whether companies are calculating wages properly, or whether prices are excessively high?"

Regarding the new 'Working Hours System Reform Plan,' A said, "You have to work from Monday to Sunday without a single day off, from 9 a.m. to past 8 p.m., to reach 70 hours a week," and criticized, "The current society offers the solution to people who have no money no matter how much they work as 'You’re struggling because you have no money? We’ll make you work more like a slave.' Yet they talk about it as if it’s a great policy."

On the 13th, a post titled "Articles defending 69 hours a week are disgusting" was uploaded on the university student community 'Everytime'. [Image source=Everytime]

He especially expressed bitterness, saying, "If the 69-hour workweek is implemented, will young couples have time to raise children? Will they be able to enjoy cultural activities in the evening? Has no one thought that people will read even fewer books, which they already don’t read, and have even fewer children, which they already don’t have?"

An anonymous university student commented, "I agree with the writer’s opinion," adding, "If people are struggling financially while working 52 hours a week, it means social welfare is not functioning properly."

Afterwards, the post spread across various online communities, gaining agreement from netizens.

Netizens left comments such as, "In Korea, wages increased not because the quality of work improved but because working hours increased, and prices rose to match those wages, creating a distorted economic structure," "Rising mortality and falling birth rates... a modern-day hell," "People misunderstand the 52-hour workweek system; normal work is 8 hours a day for 5 days, which is 40 hours a week. The 52-hour system means adding 2-3 hours of overtime daily. But 69 hours a week?" and "If we carefully monitor welfare blind spots and reduce those who embezzle or maliciously exploit the system, it would help."

Other netizens also expressed opinions like, "Perfectly pointed out," "That’s right," and "It’s easy to increase working hours but hard to reduce them. But since they just increased it, it’s inevitable to say it’s a regression."

Meanwhile, on the 6th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and other government departments held an emergency economic ministers' meeting at the Government Seoul Office and announced the 'Working Hours System Reform Plan.'

According to the reform plan announced by the government, the current 52-hour weekly overtime limit can be managed on a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis if agreed upon by labor and management. As a result, there is a strong possibility of working up to 69 hours a week, raising concerns among netizens.