Despite Explanations from the Blue House and Democratic Party, Controversy over Incheon International Airport Corporation Grows... Protest Rally to Be Held at the National Assembly on the 29th

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Controversy is growing over the decision to convert security guards at Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) into regular employees. The related petition surpassed 200,000 signatures within two days and has exceeded 250,000 as of the 28th. Although the Blue House and the Democratic Party of Korea are attempting to quell the situation by mentioning "fake news" and "conflicts between workers," the anger among young people shows no signs of subsiding.

As of the morning of the 28th, the petition titled "Please stop regularizing non-regular workers at public enterprises" related to IIAC has surpassed 257,000 signatures and is close to reaching 260,000. Young people are pointing out the "unfairness of the hiring process" regarding the decision to convert IIAC security guards to regular employees. Many job seekers preparing to join IIAC are focused on building their qualifications, and the blanket conversion without an examination process is seen as unfair.

In response, Hwang Deok-soon, the Blue House Chief of Jobs, appeared on TBS Radio's "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory" on the 25th and explained, "This conversion is unrelated to the jobs of those currently preparing to be employed by the corporation." The Democratic Party also attributed the spread of controversy to "fake news," with Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan pointing out that "incorrect information is causing public anxiety."

Democratic Party lawmakers have also rallied support through social networking services (SNS). Lawmaker Kim Du-kwan said, "People say it's unfair, but it is not. Those who studied a bit more and passed the written exam receive about twice the salary of non-regular workers, which is actually unfair," adding, "As of 2019, the average annual salary of regular employees at Incheon Airport Corporation was 91 million won, whereas those being converted to regular employees now have an annual salary of about 38.5 million won."

Lawmaker Ko Min-jung also stated, "Fake news claiming that the annual salary will rise to 50 million won due to the regularization is being spread through the media," and added, "While we understand the feelings of young people in a reality where entering a public enterprise is as difficult as winning the lottery, the essence of the issue starts from the 'distorted reality overflowing with non-regular workers suffering all kinds of discrimination.'"

However, the explanations from the ruling party and the Blue House have instead fueled the anger of young people. In university communities, Kim’s remarks were mocked with parodies such as "Then is Ronaldo the ultimate unfairness?" Kim Kwang-doo, director of the Korea Future Research Institute and one of the architects of "J-nomics," questioned on Facebook, "Why should lawmaker Kim’s salary be higher than that of a Gyeongnam provincial council member?"

The opposition criticized the government and ruling party’s perception of dismissing young people's anger as merely "fake news" and began efforts to win over young voters. Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the United Future Party, said, "Those who studied to get a job can only feel frustrated. Naturally, they have to raise objections to that part." Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, said, "The root cause is President Moon Jae-in. It’s no different from how, in the military, the barracks visited by the division commander are newly renovated, while other outdated facilities are neglected." On the 29th, lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung announced the launch of the youth issue resolution group "Research Lab for These Days’ People" at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building and said they would hold a "IIAC Lotto Employment Protest Rally."

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