'Mask Ssudam Ssudam' 'Sobyun Yuksu' 'Dambae Chicken'... Companies Frown Over Part-Time Workers' Risks

Rubbing Masks on Faces and Packaging with Bare Hands
Scandal Over Adding Urine to Fish Cake Broth
Smoking While Making Chicken... Companies Upset Over 'Part-Time Workers' Pranks'
Experts Say "Companies Must Educate Employees on Work Ethics"

On the 4th, a part-time worker at the mask manufacturer Wellkips caused controversy due to unsanitary behavior. Photo by Social Network Service capture

[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and intern Seulgi Kim] As a part-time worker at mask manufacturer Wellkips caused controversy due to unhygienic behavior, companies are increasingly facing risks due to part-time employees. Previously, a convenience store faced an uproar after a part-time worker was accused of urinating in fish cake broth. Meanwhile, at a chicken restaurant, two part-time workers sparked controversy by making chicken while smoking. Experts emphasized the need for vocational ethics education for employees.

On the 4th, a photo showing a part-time worker packaging Wellkips masks engaging in unhygienic behavior was posted on an online community, causing controversy.

The released photo shows the part-time worker touching masks with bare hands and rubbing them on their face without wearing any sterilization-related hygiene products.

As the controversy spread, the part-time worker explained, "I did it because the tiny mask was cute," and "I wanted to show off working at a famous company."

The company discarded all the problematic masks and issued an official apology. On the 5th, Jung Eunju, head of marketing at Wellkips, told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "The masks touched by the part-time worker are still within the company and will be discarded."

Regarding the problematic masks, she explained, "After the incident occurred on the previous day (the 4th), the masks produced at that time were already put on hold for shipment."

Considering that the price of Wellkips small masks sold online is 22,500 KRW for 25 pieces, the loss amounts to about 9 million KRW.

Photo by Yonhap News

Cases where part-time workers post content on online communities and social networking services (SNS) to attract attention or act out, causing damage to companies, are repeatedly occurring.

In January this year, a part-time worker at Ministop caused controversy by posting on a community board about how they make fish cakes at the convenience store.

He introduced a "secret broth" by dipping his hand, which he had placed in his groin area, into the broth, describing a liquid that looked like urine, and ended the post by saying, "I don't eat our store's fish cakes."

The post written by the convenience store part-time worker rapidly spread across online communities and SNS. The controversial part-time worker said, "I wrote the post to get attention and didn't expect it to spread like this," and clarified, "The content I wrote is not true. The fish cakes were made according to the headquarters' manual."

Ministop explained, "To verify the facts of the post, we checked the closed-circuit television (CCTV) and confirmed that the part-time worker made the fish cakes according to the manual." Afterward, the convenience store owner fired the part-time worker, but the brand image was damaged.

A Ministop official said, "After the incident, to prevent recurrence, we sent official letters to all franchise owners requesting restraint and guidance regarding photos and videos taken by part-time workers that are false or damage the company's reputation, and we regularly inform franchise owners of this through store managers."

In 2015, two male part-time workers in their early 20s were making chicken with cigarettes in their mouths at a franchise chicken store in Paju. Photo by Facebook capture

Meanwhile, in 2015, two male part-time workers in their early 20s at a franchise chicken restaurant in Paju caused controversy by posting photos on SNS of themselves making chicken while smoking.

As the posts spread, the part-time workers apologized, saying, "We played a prank while the owner was away," but the restaurant eventually closed.

Experts suggested that vocational ethics education and employee training are necessary to address personal misconduct by part-time workers.

Professor Eunhee Lee of Inha University's Department of Consumer Studies analyzed, "Ultimately, consumers suffer from the personal misconduct of part-time workers. When consumers experience such inconvenience, they have no choice but to respond by boycotting the related products and brands."

Professor Lee emphasized, "Due to the nature of part-time workers who have no connection to the profession, it is not easy for them to have a responsible attitude. Nevertheless, employers must provide employee training for part-time workers. It is the employer's responsibility to ensure part-time workers feel accountable."

She added, "In addition, practical education necessary for social members, such as vocational ethics, should be implemented in school curricula."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.