Recruitment Posts for "Protest Part-Time Jobs" Appear on Various Platforms
Platforms Delete Posts as Controversy Grows
However, No Legal Provisions Explicitly Ban Protest Part-Time Jobs
A conservative group holding a rally near the presidential residence in Yongsan-gu. This is a stock photo unrelated to the article content. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung
As protests related to the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol are taking place, a post recruiting manpower for the protests has appeared online, sparking controversy. On the 21st, SBS reported that recruitment posts offering 30,000 to 50,000 KRW per person for protest manpower were posted on online sites and e-commerce platforms the previous day, causing a stir. The post was made by a manpower dispatch company and included explanations that distribution of protest supplies, tasks to be done on-site, and prior training would be provided. As the controversy spread, the platforms have since deleted the recruitment posts.
Earlier, a local community site also had a part-time job post seeking "well-groomed female students to participate in the Saturday protest," offering an hourly wage of 10,030 KRW, but it was deleted. Netizens who saw this reacted with comments such as "Are they bribing because there are no young people?", "An immediate investigation is needed," "Who on earth posted such a thing?" and "It seems the rumor about getting paid to join protests was not false."
Amid ongoing protests calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol, a post recruiting personnel to participate in these demonstrations has appeared online, sparking controversy. On the 21st, SBS reported that job postings offering 30,000 to 50,000 KRW per person for protest personnel were found on online sites and e-commerce platforms, causing public concern. Online community
Meanwhile, experts have stated that if it is revealed that protest manpower was hired with money amid the escalating protests following the execution of an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol, heavier penalties could be imposed. In particular, if people were hired with money to participate in protests, both the organizers and the bribed participants could be punished under the Assembly and Demonstration Act (the Assembly Act). However, the Assembly Act does not have provisions regulating or supervising the act of participating in protests or demonstrations in exchange for money. As a result, even if circumstances suggesting part-time protest workers are found on-site, it is difficult to proceed to actual enforcement.
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