Allegations of violating the Equal Employment Opportunity Law have emerged regarding the hiring requirements for part-time workers at the KIA Tigers' home stadium, Gwangju Kia Champions Field.
On the 18th, a post titled '2025 Kia Champions Field baseball stadium fixed worker recruitment' was uploaded to an online job search site. The content indicated that special positions and fixed workers would be recruited to join the Champions Field home games (71 games).
The announcement stated conditions including ▲ male safety personnel must be at least 175 cm tall and in good physical condition; female information desk staff must be students or graduates of aviation studies; and female staff for the children's playroom must be students or graduates of early childhood education, among other requirements.
However, online criticism pointed out that this job posting contradicts the Equal Employment Opportunity Act concerning gender equality in employment and support for work-life balance, which mandates 'ensuring equal opportunities and treatment for men and women in employment.' The law specifies that 'employers must not discriminate between genders when recruiting or hiring workers,' and 'must not present or require physical conditions such as appearance, height, weight, or marital status that are irrelevant to the performance of the job.'
Some netizens criticized, saying, 'Why does the information staff recruitment requirement have to be for women and students of aviation?' and 'What did they mean by that announcement? Is it to use attractive, young, and pretty women as visual decoration?'
In response, KIA Tigers officials noted, 'This recruitment is not being conducted by the club but is a matter commissioned to an outsourcing company,' adding, 'They are only responsible for the service, and all recruitment personnel and qualification requirements are managed by the outsourcing company, so the club has no involvement.' After the controversy arose, the outsourcing company modified the announcement.
The hiring manager explained, 'We imposed restrictions on majors to enhance service expertise. The gender limitation issue was raised only because there have been no males employed in this field until now,' and stated, 'We will amend the male and female requirements listed in the job posting or official documents.'