Suspicions of 80-Hour Workweeks:
London Bagel Museum Overwork Controversy
Some Doctors Respond: "We Work 100 Hours a Week"
Amid suspicions of death from overwork following the death of an employee in their 20s at the popular bakery London Bagel Museum, controversy has erupted as some doctors have commented on related news articles, claiming, "We also work 100 hours a week."
On October 29, a post titled "Comments Left by Doctors on the London Bagel Museum Overwork Article" was uploaded to an online community. The post included numerous comments believed to be written by doctors.
User A wrote on social media, "Is working 80 hours a week really such a big issue? Of course, the deceased is unfortunate, and I hope the case is recognized as an industrial accident, but there are professions where people work 100 hours a week and receive threats of 'punishment.' I find this selective empathy disgusting."
Other doctors also commented, "Legally, the only profession allowed to work more than 52 hours a week is that of medical residents. In extreme cases, I have worked 130 hours a week, and it was only a few years ago that the cap was set at 80 hours. I wonder if that is actually being followed in the field," and "All young doctors work more than 80 hours a week," among other opinions.
The long working hours of medical residents are supported by statistics. According to a survey by the National Medical Residents' Labor Union, 27.8% of residents reported working more than 80 hours a week, and 3.3% said they worked more than 104 hours a week. Park Dan, former acting chair of the Korean Intern Resident Association, who led last year's strike, also stated, "Many residents work 100 hours a week, exceeding the legal limit."
However, there has been significant criticism online regarding these comments. Internet users who saw the post responded, "Are you really using someone's death as a comparison?" and "Someone died while working, and you're talking about it as if it's a competition. This is an issue of empathy." There was also criticism directed at last year's medical resident strike, with comments such as, "Didn't you also go on strike because it was difficult for you?" and "If it's so tough, why do you oppose increasing the number of medical school admissions?"
Medical residents protested against the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's policy to increase the medical school quota by 2,000, launching mass resignations and strikes from February to August last year. As a result, medical service gaps widened, and numerous cases of patient harm occurred. The number of cases reported to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Victim Support Center last year reached a total of 5,785.
Ministry of Labor Launches Labor Inspection at London Bagel Museum
Meanwhile, on this day, the Ministry of Employment and Labor began a labor inspection at the London Bagel Museum's Incheon branch and its main office in Jongno, Seoul. The ministry announced it would focus on thoroughly checking for violations of labor laws, including not only excessive working hours but also the provision of breaks and holidays, wage arrears, and any additional harm to all employees. If any violations are found, the inspection will be expanded to the remaining five locations.
Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Younghoon stated, "It is heartbreaking that a young person in their 20s, who was working at a famous bagel cafe known for its high sales and dreaming of the future, has lost their life," adding, "We will thoroughly investigate the facts and respond strictly with a zero-tolerance policy if any violations of the law are confirmed."
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