Lee Jae-myung Visits Exchange... Responds to Cleaning Workers' Appeal for Better Treatment with "Will Pay Attention"

Lee Jae-myung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea running for the next party leader election, visited the Korea Exchange in Yeouido, Seoul on the 25th and is talking with exchange officials. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Myunghwan Lee] On the 25th, Lee Jae-myung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, responded to cleaning workers at the Korea Exchange who requested improvements in working conditions and treatment by saying, "I will pay attention."

On the morning of the same day, Lee visited the Korea Exchange in Yeouido to inspect the capital market site and met with cleaning workers from the Korea Exchange who requested better treatment while moving to another location.

A cleaning worker belonging to a service company who met Lee complained that the working environment was poor and that staff replenishment was not properly done. The worker said, "During the remodeling of the Exchange building, 10 cleaning workers were dismissed and not reinstated, so the existing staff continued working, increasing the workload intensity," adding, "There is no electricity in the break room, making heating and cooling difficult, and in 2019, someone collapsed due to heatstroke."

The workers also claimed that the employer proposed a wage increase that did not meet the minimum wage. They lamented, "Next year's wages will be raised to less than the minimum wage," and added, "We are in the same situation as Yonsei University. The case is currently at the local labor commission."

In response, Lee said, "Regarding wages, it can only be done through labor-management negotiations, but it should obviously exceed the minimum wage," adding, "In labor-management negotiations, workers have the right to take collective action as guaranteed by labor law, so I hope you use that as leverage to negotiate well. It is difficult for us to intervene directly."

Regarding the working environment, he said, "The lack of heating and cooling in the break room seems serious. Staff replenishment is also a matter related to work intensity," and added, "Whether this is illegal or not, it seems to be an issue that should be resolved through negotiation, but direct intervention is impossible, so I will pay attention." He also advised, "Please expand the labor union organization as much as possible and negotiate well with the management."

Lee immediately called Yang Tae-young, the Vice President of the Exchange nearby, and pointed out, "Since the Exchange is a quasi-public institution, please check the fact that there seems to be no electricity in the break room. This is not something to be praised." He continued, "It is difficult to talk about wage issues, staff replenishment, and work intensity, but I hope you show consideration," and urged, "Please have a good conversation, and since these are people doing the hardest work in our society, please pay special attention and consider their position."

Vice President Yang briefly replied, "I will take a look."

Regarding this, a Korea Exchange official explained, "This year, the contract amount with the cleaning service company and workers was increased from the existing 9,200 won per hour to 9,522 won per hour," adding, "Including breakfast meal allowances and bonuses, the amount is about 10,225 won, which is higher than the workers' requested amount of 9,700 won."

Regarding the workers' break facilities, the official explained, "The place where cleaning service workers claimed there was no electricity is a separately prepared floor-specific waiting room," and added, "Two cleaning service worker break rooms have been installed within the Exchange building, providing both electricity and central heating and cooling." The official further explained, "Due to fire risk, the use of individual heaters or cooking appliances in the floor-specific waiting rooms is restricted, but lunch is provided free of charge at the cafeteria instead."

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