So Joo-jin: "Even if unmanned stores increase, jobs won't be created?... This time it's the 'Park Young-sun version of the five loaves and two fish miracle'"

Rep. So Su-jin of the People Power Party is questioning at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee hearing on October 19 last year, regarding the prosecution offices under the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office and Suwon High Prosecutors' Office in Yeouido, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Jo Sujin, a member of the People Power Party, criticized Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, who visited a convenience store and proposed an 'unmanned supermarket,' saying, "We might have to recall Park Young-sun's version of the miracle of the five loaves and two fish."

On the 25th, Jo wrote on her Facebook, "'Unmanned (無人)' means 'without people,' but when criticized that it reduces people's jobs, to even use the term 'ignorant' is baffling," she stated.

She added, "Despite the controversy, Park's camp mentioned 'lack of understanding of the Fourth Industrial Revolution's new technologies' and 'ignorance,' suggesting that even if unmanned stores increase, jobs will not decrease."

She further pointed out, "Following a current minister of the Moon Jae-in administration who said that the monthly living expenses for a family of three in Seoul are 600,000 won, now we have to recall Park Young-sun's version of the miracle of the five loaves and two fish (五餠二魚 ? the miraculous event where Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish)."

She also criticized, "The Moon Jae-in administration, which claimed to be a 'job government,' hung a 'job status board' in the Blue House as soon as they took office. However, throughout their tenure, they only worked to eliminate jobs." She continued, "They pledged to create a 'life with evenings,' but instead, they are creating a life for young people where they wander the streets looking for evening meals."

Earlier, at midnight on the 25th, when official election campaigning began, Park worked a night shift at a convenience store. After finishing, Park said, "People think that unmanned stores will eliminate jobs, but if the store operates unmanned from midnight to 7 a.m., the working hours of part-timers during the day can be reduced, and the store owner can pay more corresponding to the increased sales at night. That benefits both the store owner and the part-timers." She added, "Since part-timers are less tired, they can be more friendly to customers and escape the night owl lifestyle."

In response, the People Power Party released a statement titled "Did you work a convenience store part-time job on the moon?" and fiercely criticized it as "a statement that wounds the hearts of young people" and "completely lacking empathy."

Amid the ongoing controversy, Park's campaign issued a clarification stating, "Through agreements between store owners and employees, it is a form that guarantees the same wages despite reduced working hours without job cuts." They also explained, "The increase in convenience store hourly wages, currently at the minimum wage level, will help improve the productivity of daytime employees. The People Power Party's statement is either an ignorant comment stemming from a lack of understanding of the Fourth Industrial Revolution or a malicious and intentional remark."

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