CNN "Korea 69-Hour Workweek Controversy... Hundreds Already Dead from Overwork"

"South Korean Government Faces Backlash from MZ Generation Workers"

US-based CNN reported that Korean society is opposing the amendment to the labor law allowing 69 working hours per week. On the 19th (local time), CNN focused on the Korean government's push and controversy over the revised labor law permitting a maximum of 69 working hours per week.

Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

CNN stated, "While many countries around the world are shortening working hours to improve workers' productivity and health, one country is missing this trend," and reported, "The Korean government is trying to allow the weekly working hour limit to increase from 52 hours to 69 hours."

The outlet cited "long working hours" as the reason behind South Korea's rise from the ruins of the Korean War to an East Asian economic powerhouse. It analyzed that South Korea attempted to extend working hours to address labor shortages caused by low birth rates and aging population.

It added, "Critics argue that strengthening regulations on workers will only worsen the situation," and reported claims that there are workers losing their lives due to heart attacks, industrial accidents, and drowsy driving. It also mentioned that dozens of people die every year from 'Gwarosa' (death from overwork).

A 25-year-old university student living in Seoul said, "It's an absurd proposal," and added, "It is far from what workers want." He continued, "My father has no boundary between life and work due to excessive workload every week," and opposed, "Koreans will become even more vulnerable to overtime work."

Sim Haein, spokesperson for the Seoul-based feminist group Haeil, pointed out, "South Korea not only has a high rate of Gwarosa but also shows the highest suicide rate among developed countries," and criticized, "The government refuses to acknowledge the reality faced by Korean society."

Im Eui-ja, the floor leader of the People Power Party on the Environment and Labor Committee, is explaining the working hours system reform plan to participants including Yoo Jun-hwan, chairman of the "Saerogochim Workers' Council," at a discussion on the direction of working hours system reform held on the morning of the 16th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

CNN noted that South Korea's working hours last year were 1,915 hours, which is much higher than the OECD member countries' average of 1,716 hours and the US's 1,767 hours.

The outlet reported, "Hundreds of people died from overwork before the government reduced the working hour limit to 52 hours per week in 2017. Even after the introduction of the 52-hour workweek system, there were cases of Gwarosa," and introduced that 14 delivery workers died from overwork during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the 16th, Ahn Sang-hoon, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs at the Presidential Office, said that President Yoon Suk-yeol believes working more than 60 hours per week is excessive even with extended work hours, and instructed a full review of the labor hour reform plan. CNN mentioned this, stating, "The Korean government's plan to increase the current 52-hour workweek to 69 hours has faced backlash from the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z) and is now being reconsidered."