"Job Seeker Frustration" vs "Need to Increase Employment Stability": Controversy Over Regular Employment Conversion at Incheon Airport

Incheon Airport Corporation Directly Employs 1,902 Non-Regular Security Screening Workers
"Feeling Deprived... Draining" vs "Protecting Employment for Vulnerable Workers" Heated Debate
"From Part-Time to 50 Million Won Annual Salary" Controversy Over Alleged Anonymous Chatroom of Incheon Airport Workers

Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Incheon International Airport Corporation announced that it will directly employ security screening workers, sparking controversy over the conversion of non-regular workers to regular positions. Job seekers preparing for public enterprise recruitment exams expressed feelings of relative deprivation.

Civilians argue that this conversion method constitutes reverse discrimination against existing workers and job seekers, while others contend that it is a necessary procedure to ensure employment stability, leading to ongoing debates.

In particular, controversy is expected to continue as screenshots of a group chat presumed to involve corporation employees were revealed through online communities.

On the 22nd, Incheon International Airport Corporation announced that it will convert 1,902 non-regular security screening workers, whose contracts with partner companies are ending this month, into 'Cheongwon Police' status and directly employ them. With this, the corporation has completed the conversion of about 10,000 non-regular workers to regular positions. This comes three years after President Moon Jae-in visited Incheon Airport and declared the 'Zero Non-Regular Workers' policy.

Meanwhile, as anonymous chatroom photos presumed to be conversations among corporation workers were shared on online communities and social media, the controversy is expected to intensify.

According to the released photos, chatroom users responded with comments such as "I came in as security through a part-time job site, and my two years of experience are fully recognized, earning an annual salary of 50 million won," "What's the use of graduating from a SKY university? While others wasted five years, I earned money and became equivalent to Seoul National University level," and "I was going to quit soon, but I guess I have to stick with it."

On the 22nd, after finishing a briefing on the regularization of security screening workers at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1, Koo Bon-hwan, CEO of Incheon International Airport Corporation, was met with strong protests from employees as he left the briefing room and was heading to the elevator. Photo by Yonhap News

As a result, job seekers have raised critical voices regarding the regularization of non-regular workers. Especially since Incheon International Airport Corporation has been ranked first for three consecutive years in a survey by the employment portal Incruit as the 'most desired public enterprise for university students,' it is considered a 'dream company' among job seekers, leading to strong backlash.

A (25), who has been preparing for public enterprise recruitment exams for two years, said, "It seems that the position of job seekers was not considered at all," adding, "Even with blind recruitment, job seekers build their qualifications to fill out one item in the self-introduction letter and attend special lectures, online classes, and academies to prepare for the National Competency Standards (NCS) exam."

She continued, "Public enterprises are especially competitive, and everyone works hard to get hired, so it feels very unfair that people who only worked part-time are being converted without going through this process. Then what was the point of my efforts over the years?" She added, "Moreover, the current economic situation is bad, making it harder to get a job, and since the number of employees has increased, I worry fewer people will be hired. I feel doubtful whether this mechanical equality is truly equality."

Additionally, job seekers expressed their frustration through internet cafes like 'Gongchwi-sa' (a community for those preparing for public institution and government jobs) and social media, saying things like "If you're a job seeker, you know how hard it is to get into Incheon International Airport Corporation," "It's unfair to those who entered through open recruitment or are preparing for it," and "The number of openings is reduced due to the conversion, making it even harder to get a job."

Relatedly, a petition urging the suspension of the conversion of non-regular workers to regular positions in public enterprises was posted.

On the 22nd, a petitioner posted a petition titled "Please stop the regularization of non-regular workers in public enterprises" on the Blue House National Petition Board, criticizing, "Please stop converting non-regular workers in public enterprises to regular positions. Is taking away the positions of those who work hard really equality?"

He added, "In office positions where companies require near-perfect TOEIC scores to pass document screening, is it fair to convert people without similar qualifications or exams? This is not equality. It is reverse discrimination against youth and a greater misfortune," and "Is this really a policy that benefits everyone without harming young people? The indiscriminate regularization of non-regular workers must stop immediately."

On the afternoon of the 22nd, Koo Bon-hwan, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, held a briefing regarding the direct employment of approximately 1,900 security screening workers at the Hae-dang-hwa Room in Incheon International Airport Terminal 1. Photo by Yonhap News

On the other hand, some responded with understanding, saying, "I see it as a process to enhance employment stability."

B, a worker in his 30s, said, "Considering the treatment of non-regular workers, I think converting them to regular positions is necessary. Of course, job seekers and others directly involved may feel differently, but in the long run, I think it is a necessary process."

B added, "This controversy ultimately stems from the perception that non-regular workers, despite being actual workers, are inferior to regular employees," and "Non-regular workers have always been a vulnerable labor group exposed to unilateral contract termination and dismissal, so I think society will change by addressing this situation."

C (28), another worker, said, "I understand but also don't understand why people feel deprived when non-regular workers in poor working conditions are guaranteed better treatment. It's not like they're taking away the salaries of existing regular employees and sharing them," adding, "I wonder if converting the employment status of people who have already learned the job while working is such a big problem."

Meanwhile, on the 22nd, Koo Bon-hwan, president of Incheon Airport Corporation, held a briefing at Incheon Airport and announced, "We will directly employ 1,902 passenger security screening workers as 'Cheongwon Police'."

However, security personnel hired after the May 2017 declaration of regularization will be directly employed through an 'open competition' process, so there may be failures, leading to opposition from the labor union. Regarding this, the corporation stated, "The contract with security screening personnel runs until June, so we could not closely consult with the union while quickly preparing the regularization plan," adding, "We will proceed with the hiring process first and prepare relief measures for those who fail."

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