Broadcaster Park Myung-soo's remarks about the "4.5-day workweek" he delivered on radio have become a hot topic day after day, and the aftershock continues. Since the broadcast, criticism such as "what do entertainers know" has poured in online, and the controversy has not subsided for four days.
On the 12th, on KBS Radio Cool FM's Park Myung-soo's Radio Show segment "Search N Chart," Park Myung-soo discussed opinions on the introduction of a 4.5-day workweek with broadcaster Jeon Min-gi. At the time he mentioned his past experience, saying, "In the past we lived a 5.5-day week. It was hard, but because everyone worked hard together, I think the world we have now was created," and added a realistic view: "The population is declining, and if working hours are also reduced, corporations will find it difficult to survive. Of course the working conditions of workers are important. Sufficient dialogue and agreement are needed."
But the remark quickly sparked a heated reaction. Some internet users strongly reacted to Park Myung-soo mentioning his freelance working style by saying "I even work during Chuseok." One internet user expressed discomfort on his social media, saying, "How much more do you get paid for working a few days during Chuseok? Entertainers can rest for months and still earn tens of millions or hundreds of millions of won. What qualification does someone who has never worked in an office have to discuss a 4.5-day workweek?"
Another internet user criticized, "Park Myung-soo's experience of heavy labor was only a brief experience on Infinite Challenge," and said, "Corporations are structured to employ fewer workers and make them do more work. Remarks that seem to only represent that corporate perspective are hard to sympathize with." In fact, many comments on his social media pointed out that "he mentions working hours without directly experiencing office work."
On the other hand, some people nod in agreement with Park Myung-soo's opinion. Some internet users said, "Employees need to work hard and produce results for a company to do well, and only then do I receive my salary and bonus," and reacted, "Reducing work hours without results is not right." Many also voiced sympathy for his concerns, saying, "Practically, immediately implementing a 4.5-day workweek would be difficult."
Ultimately, Park Myung-soo's remarks have spread beyond a personal conviction to become a facet showing the interests between workers and corporations. At the same time, criticism that "as a public figure he should have had more balance in his remarks" has been steadily raised.
The controversy remains ongoing. The reason Park Myung-soo's remarks have not ended as a mere "personal conviction" and continue to heat up online day after day is seen as proof that the 4.5-day workweek is a sensitive and divisive social issue.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]