"I have nowhere to go and feel lost. Please help us!"
An employee of the Lotte Department Store Masan branch in Changwon, Gyeongnam, which is set to close on the 30th due to poor sales, made this appeal to representatives from Changwon City and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission who visited the site.
Kim Taegyu, Vice Chairman of Civil Complaints at the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, and Jang Geumyong, First Vice Mayor of Changwon, toured the department store from the food court on basement level 1 to the office space on the 10th floor with Park Jooncheol, the Masan branch manager, meeting with employees throughout.
Kim Taegyu, Vice Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (right), is inspecting the soon-to-close Lotte Department Store Masan Branch in Changwon, Gyeongnam. Photo by Lee Seryeong
Employee A, in their 60s and working at a clothing store, said, "I've worked here for 30 years since the Daewoo Department Store days, and I can't stop crying when I think that the place I came to every day will disappear in a few days. Now that I'm older, no one will hire me, so I'm wondering if I should get a caregiver license," they said tearfully.
Another employee, B, also in their 60s, said, "Except for a few who are moving to the Changwon branch or elsewhere, most of us have nowhere to go. I thought I would work for a few more years since my contract wasn't up, but this happened so suddenly that I was completely shocked."
Jeon Kyungsook, co-chair of the Victims' Countermeasure Committee, said, "Most employees only heard about the closure through media reports at the end of April, with no time to prepare. No matter how experienced we are, there are so many young people that it's hard to move to another department store."
"I've worked here with pride, but next month I won't have a place to work. Just thinking about next month brings me to tears," she added.
Vice Chairman Kim said, "You must have been so shocked and confused by the sudden news. Having worked here your whole life, it can't be easy to find a new job," he said.
Jang Geumyong, the First Vice Mayor of Changwon City, Gyeongnam (left), and Kim Taegyu, Vice Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, are talking with employees of Lotte Department Store Masan Branch in Changwon City, Gyeongnam, which is about to close. Photo by Lee Seryeong
Afterward, Vice Chairman Kim and Vice Mayor Jang moved to Masanhappo District Office to hold an emergency grievance field meeting regarding the closure of Lotte Department Store Masan branch.
About 40 people attended the meeting, including officials from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, Gyeongnam Province, Changwon City, representatives of small business owners by category, subcontracted employees, and officials from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Small business owners and employees said, "We are being pushed out onto the street without even the minimum grace period or compensation for a new space. Being told to pack up and leave in just two months was so sad and devastating that it brought us to tears."
They pleaded, "Please provide at least a minimal safety net for the tenants of Lotte Department Store Masan branch, who have lost their livelihoods overnight."
They also requested: ▲living expense support during the business restart preparation period ▲extension of loan repayment periods ▲support for training programs such as those offered by Women's New Employment Centers ▲priority hiring of unemployed workers by local government offices and companies ▲and job placement assistance through platforms like Worknet.
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission decided to seek ways to support small business owners and recommend necessary institutional improvements to relevant ministries to come up with solutions.
Kim Taekyu, Vice Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (center), is speaking at an urgent grievance on-site meeting at Lotte Department Store, which is about to close. Photo by Lee Seryeong
Vice Chairman Kim said, "After barely enduring the impact of COVID-19, you must have thought things would finally recover, but this sudden event must have caused a great sense of loss. The closure of Lotte Department Store Masan branch will shrink the local business district and impact all of Changwon City."
He added, "We will listen to as many employees and small business owners as possible, organize their voices, and do everything we can to ease their sense of loss and provide support."
Vice Mayor Jang said, "I hope this meeting will be a starting point for solving the difficulties faced by small business owners in the department store. Our city will also share in their pain and work to stabilize the local economy and jobs."
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