Yoo Seung-min on Yoon's 'Non-regular Worker Remarks' Controversy: "Seems Like He Doesn't Understand Young People's Feelings"

Yoon Suk-yeol "If there is no wage difference, regular or irregular workers are the same"
Amid growing controversy, "I meant that the distinction between regular and irregular workers will ultimately disappear"

Yoon Seok-yeol, a preliminary candidate for the People Power Party's presidential primary, appeared on the YouTube live broadcast "All Day Live" held on the 12th at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, featuring 12 preliminary candidates for the primary. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate and former Prosecutor General, sparked controversy by saying, "If there is no wage difference, there is little meaning between non-regular and regular workers," regarding youth employment. In response, his intra-party competitor, former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, criticized, "Don't speak carelessly without understanding reality."

On the afternoon of the 14th, former lawmaker Yoo posted on his Facebook a post titled "Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, how can you say non-regular workers are no different from regular workers?"

Earlier, on the 13th, during a meeting with students at Andong University, Yoon was asked about youth employment issues and argued, "The existing labor market needs to be somewhat softened and made more flexible."

Yoon continued, "We should ensure that there is little difference between non-regular and regular workers, and between jobs at large companies and small and medium-sized enterprises," adding, "In fact, if there is no significant wage difference, does it really matter whether one is a non-regular or regular worker? Nowadays, young people especially do not intend to work at one company for their entire lives."

Regarding these remarks, former lawmaker Yoo directly criticized, "Is this what you want to say to our youth? It seems you don't understand the feelings of young people because you have lived your whole life as a prosecutor official," and asked, "Do you not understand the feelings of non-regular workers who never know when they might be fired?"

He continued, "Do you say young people do not want lifelong jobs? Can't you see the desperation of young people who are preparing for civil service exams?" and added, "If you want to say such things in front of young people, the older generation, including the 586 privileged class, must lead by example."

Yoo Seung-min, a preliminary candidate for the People Power Party presidential primary, visited the Pureun Tree Foundation in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 14th and held a meeting. [Image source=Yonhap News]

He also said, "Regular workers protected by strong labor unions must make concessions. Without that, are you saying that the older generation should keep lifelong regular jobs while only young people should hop from job to job like locusts as non-regular workers?" and called it "a statement that lacks even the concept of employment stability."

Furthermore, he added, "Before discussing the qualifications of a presidential candidate, I wonder if he is really someone living in the same era and country."

As the controversy escalated, Yoon's campaign issued a statement the previous day, saying, "The overall context and intention explained by the candidate to the students are completely different," and clarified, "Whether it is a small or large company, regular or non-regular workers, if efforts are made to achieve 'equal pay for equal work' and eliminate wage gaps, the distinction between regular and non-regular workers will ultimately disappear."

They rebutted, "It is not that the candidate failed to understand the preferences of young people or said that the distinction between non-regular and regular workers is meaningless."

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