"Why Don't They Understand Our Anger?" Job Seekers Criticize Incheon Airport Corporation Incident as 'Unfair Reverse Discrimination'

Conflict Intensifies Over Regularization of Non-Regular Workers at Incheon International Airport Corporation
Job Seekers Express Outrage: "Fairness Undermined... De Facto Reverse Discrimination"
"We Must Achieve Our Goals Through Equal Competition"

A civil service exam academy located in Noryangjin, Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Examinees are focused on studying individually while wearing masks. Photo by Seulgi Kim, intern reporter sabiduriakim@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] As a Blue House official recently remarked that the controversy over the regularization of non-regular workers at Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) has escalated partly due to 'fake news,' young people continue to voice strong criticism.

They argue that the essence of the IIAC issue has not been properly understood. Even the ruling party has stated that the root cause of the IIAC controversy stems from fake news, suggesting that criticism from young people is likely to persist for some time.

On an online cafe where job seekers in their 20s and 30s gather, a flood of criticism condemning the IIAC incident poured in. One job seeker in their 20s pointed out, "The government still does not understand the core of the problem," adding, "The essence of the IIAC issue lies in unfairness during the regularization process."

Another job seeker also emphasized, "We are pointing out fairness, so why do they keep talking about 'fake news'?" and stressed, "The IIAC problem is a violation of fairness."

Meanwhile, on another cafe for civil service exam candidates, someone raised their voice, saying, "Some people study for years to meet the IIAC qualifications, but this is not right," and added, "If someone's efforts disappear just because of one word from the president, that doesn't seem fair."

Members of the Incheon International Airport Corporation Labor Union held placards as they announced their stance on the regularization of non-regular security screening personnel during a press conference near the Blue House in Seoul on the afternoon of the 25th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Summarizing the criticism from job seekers pouring in over the IIAC controversy, the core of the conflict is the violation of fairness. It is a claim of a kind of reverse discrimination. Amid this, criticism continues that the political sphere has expressed opinions disconnected from the dissatisfaction of young people.

On the 27th, Kim Du-kwan, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, wrote on Facebook, "Is the wish of young people to become security screening officers earning an annual salary of 35 million won?" He added, "Is it only me who senses the shadow of a wrongful privilege that says, 'How dare non-regular workers try to enter the 'God’s workplace'?a prestigious job for Seoul’s top university graduates who can prepare for employment for 5 or 10 years without worrying about livelihood'?"

Earlier, Kim faced much criticism for saying, "It is rather unfair that those who studied a bit more and passed the written exam receive about twice the salary of non-regular workers after becoming regular employees."

Kim also said, "There are constant nitpicks calling it 'lottery employment' and unfairness," and added, "Whether the salary gap of more than twice between regular and non-regular workers is justified is a task for our society." He also stated, "(Security screening staff) are not the field where IIAC job seekers pass and work, nor are they taking away someone’s share."

Go Min-jung, a member of the same party, made similar claims. On the 25th, Go wrote on her Facebook, "Regarding the regularization of Incheon Airport security screening workers, public enterprise job seekers complain that 'their positions are being taken away,' and 'fake news that the annual salary will rise to 50 million won due to regularization' is spreading in the media, worsening the conflict."

She continued, "Some opposition party members also joined the criticism, calling it 'lottery regularization,' and the regularization of non-regular workers has been demonized," and questioned, "Why belittle efforts to eliminate discrimination and normalize the situation?"

Go argued, "While I understand the feelings of young people in a reality where entering a public enterprise is as difficult as winning the lottery, it has become a society where even when doing the same work in the same workplace, wages and treatment differ, and non-regular workers bear responsibilities for public life and safety."

A post from the 'Broken Pen Movement' opposing the regularization of non-regular workers at Incheon International Airport Corporation. Photo by an online cafe where job seekers gather.

Meanwhile, as the IIAC controversy drags on, some job seekers have launched the so-called 'Broken Pen Movement.' This is interpreted as a form of protest where job seekers, feeling relative deprivation due to the IIAC incident despite their diligent job preparation, decide to stop studying altogether.

One job seeker who proposed the Broken Pen Movement said, "From a job seeker’s perspective, no matter how much I think about it, I believe the IIAC incident should not be overlooked," and expressed frustration, "If the non-regular workers are converted to regular employees as it is in the IIAC incident, the damage will directly affect other job seekers as well."

They added, "This incident is clearly reverse discrimination. We need to unite and express a strong stance on this matter," emphasizing, "In these difficult times due to COVID-19, we must achieve what we want through fair and equal competition."

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