[Reporter’s Notebook] You Don't Have to Be Faster Than a Machine

"I don't understand why the media calls someone a 'master' just because they work faster than a machine. In the workplace, speed and safety rarely coexist."

While covering the feature story 'Death in the Bread Factory', I met with Professor Seo Yongyun, an expert in industrial accident prevention from the Department of Industrial Systems Engineering at Dongguk University. As we talked and I sought his advice, there was a brief pause in the conversation. Professor Seo then shared his personal thoughts, saying, "After seeing so many industrial accident cases, I've come to realize something."

On television, 'masters' are often shown working at incredible speeds, their hands moving so fast they're almost invisible, and performing tasks with machine-like precision. Production crews ask them to demonstrate whether they can do it with their eyes closed or process a certain amount of work in just a few seconds. When they succeed, the crew declares, "You truly deserve to be called a master." This is a familiar way for the media to introduce skilled factory workers.

However, from the perspective of industrial accident prevention, these scenes are not simply awe-inspiring. When one person takes on the work of several, there will inevitably be things that get overlooked, increasing the risk of accidents. The dangers of working at high speed go without saying. To meet production quotas, machine speeds are often increased, and safety devices can become seen as mere hindrances. These underlying issues are rarely addressed in such programs.

Recognizing the effort someone has put into mastering a skill is important. However, it's regrettable that the focus is rarely on how they became a master in the first place. Was it because they were pressured to meet quotas and naturally became faster? Was it because the work structure meant that if they stopped, the next person would be affected? Yet, I have never seen the media highlight a 'master of safety.'

On September 18, the SPC Samlip chapter of the Chemical and Food Workers' Union was established. Kim Soyoung, a veteran who has worked at the SPC Samlip Siwha factory for 12 years, was appointed as the chapter leader. At a press conference held in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan the day after the chapter's launch, she said, "Trying to keep up with the overwhelming workload made it difficult even to go to the restroom. There were times when I pleaded just to be allowed a restroom break. When I asked if I could leave early because I was sick with the flu, I was told, 'Why do you always get sick on busy Fridays?'" She was appealing to be seen as a person, not a machine.

We live in an era where various systems such as 'remote work,' 'work-life balance,' and 'PC-off' policies are being introduced to restore humanity in the workplace. However, the reality in factories is far removed from these societal trends. The speed of 'masters' who work faster than machines may provide entertainment for viewers, but the reality that safety cannot keep up with efficiency is extremely dangerous.