[Summary] Opposition, Criticizing Park Young-sun Who Proposed 'Unmanned Supermarket' as "Lacking Empathy... Mocking Young Workers"

Park Young-sun, after hearing convenience store part-timers' hardships... "Suggested unmanned supermarket to store owners"
Opposition criticizes, "Remarks hurt young people's feelings"
Park Young-sun camp calls opposition's comments "malicious"

On the first day of the April 7 by-election campaign, around midnight on the 25th, Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, started her campaign by working a night shift at a convenience store. She is organizing products at a convenience store in front of Hongdae in Mapo-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 25th, Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Seoul mayor, sparked controversy after listening to the grievances of convenience store part-timers and then proposing 'unmanned supermarkets' to store owners. The opposition party launched fierce attacks on Park's actions, saying they were "speechless," but Park's camp countered, stating that "it was a discussion about establishing a preemptive system to prepare for job losses due to the era of unmanned convenience stores brought about by the development of AI (artificial intelligence)."

Earlier, as her first schedule at midnight on the day official election campaigning began, Park visited a convenience store near Hongik University in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and worked a night shift part-time.

Dressed in training clothes and wearing an employee vest, Park personally served customers for about an hour during the night shift. She also asked the convenience store staff she was with questions such as "What time do you start work?" and "How much do you earn per month?"

After finishing work, Park told reporters, "When I was Minister of SMEs and Startups, I promoted and expanded smart stores and unmanned supermarkets, and I proposed such ideas to the store owners."

She continued, "At night, the store operates unmanned, but instead of reducing jobs, the working hours of part-timers during the day are slightly reduced, and the wages are paid a little more in proportion to the increased sales at night."

The opposition criticized this, saying, "After experiencing convenience store part-time work, proposing unmanned supermarkets that eliminate 'convenience store jobs' is speechless."

Kim Cheol-geun, spokesperson for the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral by-election campaign committee, issued a statement that day, questioning, "Is this a story told with an understanding of the difficult situation of convenience store owners and the pain of young people due to the COVID-19 situation?"

Kim pointed out, "Due to the smart unmanned convenience stores promoted by Park during her ministerial tenure, jobs have significantly decreased, and there are statistics showing that convenience store part-time jobs rank second among the most difficult jobs to find after the COVID-19 crisis, indicating the industry's struggles. Moreover, since the infrastructure for smart unmanned stores is not fully established, there are concerns about indiscriminate exposure of youth to alcohol and cigarettes, as well as criticisms about inadequate responses to on-site theft, making it an immature policy."

On the first day of the April 7 by-election campaign, around midnight on the 25th, Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, started her campaign by working a night shift at a convenience store. She is organizing cup noodles at a convenience store in front of Hongdae in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

He added, "Everything has its time and place. Why did she propose 'unmanned supermarkets' and 'smart stores' right after experiencing 'convenience store part-time work'? Was she trying to promote her achievements during her ministerial tenure?" and criticized, "Her remarks hurt the hearts of young people struggling to find part-time jobs."

He continued, "It sounds like the words of someone from the moon with no empathy at all," and added, "As a candidate for Seoul mayor, I hope she at least considers system support for small business owners and the livelihood of part-time workers. This is a request as a Seoul citizen."

Park Ki-nyung, deputy spokesperson of the same party's central election committee, also issued a statement, saying, "Park started her first schedule with a 'self-promotion of incompetence.' Even if her empathy is seriously lacking, mocking young workers who have been steadfastly working in difficult environments is unacceptable."

He continued, "It is surprising and unbelievable that someone who lacks basic manners to propose eliminating jobs in front of workers is a candidate for Seoul mayor. Ultimately, the embarrassment and shame fall entirely on the citizens of Seoul," and raised his voice, saying, "Park, who 'self-promoted' her 'lack of qualifications' as a Seoul mayor candidate from day one, should immediately resign as a courtesy to the citizens of Seoul and as a natural course of action."

As the controversy grew, Park's campaign released a clarification, rebutting the opposition by saying, "If this is not an ignorant comment caused by a lack of understanding of the new technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution, then it is a malicious and intentional comment."

The campaign explained, "(The remarks at the time) referred to a plan to institutionalize profit-sharing with existing night shift employees when supporting the introduction of 'night unmanned convenience stores' at the Seoul city level," adding, "It is a kind of protocol economy where, through agreements between store owners and employees, the same wages are guaranteed despite reduced working hours without job cuts."

They further stated, "Park was talking about establishing a preemptive system to prepare for job losses due to the era of unmanned convenience stores brought about by the development of AI in the '4th Industrial Revolution era,'" and "She mentioned a plan to share profits from increased sales through night unmanned convenience stores with daytime employed staff."

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