Public Golf Courses Operated by Public Institutions Still Rely on 'Free Labor'... Union Membership Rate at 10%

Sangnok CC Caddy Workers Reach Agreement with Management
Poor Working Conditions at Other Public Golf Courses
"Low Union Membership Leaves Workers Helpless Against Sexual Harassment"

Sky72 Golf Course. Photo by Sky72

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seohee] The Sangnok CC branch of the National Women’s Labor Union, which held four strikes demanding the abolition of unpaid labor and an increase in caddy fees, recently reached an agreement with management, bringing the dispute to a temporary close. However, working conditions for caddies employed at other golf courses under public institutions remain poor. In particular, most golf courses under public institutions are not unionized, leaving caddy workers in a ‘labor blind spot,’ critics say.

Unpaid Labor Such as ‘Baeto’ and ‘Dangbeonje’ Still Prevails

The Sangnok CC branch of the National Women’s Labor Union and Sangnok Golf & Resort finally reached a negotiation agreement on the 28th of last month regarding improvements to caddy working conditions. According to the agreement, caddy workers at Cheonan, Hwaseong, and Gimhae Sangnok CC will abolish the ‘dangbeonje’ system, which had been considered customary, and significantly reduce baeto work to once a week during peak season and twice a week during off-season. Caddy fees were also slightly increased to 140,000 KRW at Cheonan and Gimhae Sangnok CC, and 150,000 KRW at Hwaseong Sangnok CC.

The problem is that working conditions at other golf courses under public institutions, excluding Sangnok CC, remain poor. According to on-site caddy workers, the ‘baeto’ and ‘dangbeonje’ practices that caddies at Cheonan, Hwaseong, and Gimhae Sangnok CC demanded to be abolished this year are still openly carried out.

Baeto and dangbeonje have been performed as ‘free labor’ by caddy workers because there was no designated person responsible. Baeto refers to the task of filling in divots on the grass with a mixture of sand and fertilizer when golfers take shots. Dangbeonje means staying at the golf course all day on days off to perform miscellaneous tasks such as cleaning the waiting room and running errands. Baeto takes about an hour per session, and dangbeonje occupies an entire day.

Caddy workers with long experience say that, except for Sangnok CC, ‘free labor’ is still practiced as a custom at other golf courses. Lee Juhyung, branch head of the National Women’s Labor Union who has worked as a caddy for 20 years, said, “Except for Sangnok CC, caddies at other golf courses still carry heavy sand for baeto work and take turns for dangbeonje. Sangnok CC is considered one of the top golf courses in the industry in terms of labor conditions. The reality at other golf courses is even more severe,” he explained.

Only 10% of Public Institution Golf Courses Have Unionized Workplaces... Difficult to Respond to Sexual Harassment

Low union membership among caddies is also cited as an obstacle to improving working conditions.

According to Asia Economy’s investigation, among 30 golf courses operated by public institutions (excluding military golf courses), only three?Sangnok CC, Dream Dunes CC, and 88 Golf Course?have unionized workplaces, accounting for just 10% of the total. Since July 1 of this year, five special employment categories including caddies (information and communication software engineers, school bus drivers for children, tourist interpreters, freight truck owners, and caddies) have become eligible for employment insurance, leading to a shift in social perception, but the union membership rate among caddies remains low.

Industry insiders point out that in cases of sexual harassment and assault, it is difficult for workers to respond alone, leaving caddies at non-unionized workplaces defenseless. Due to the nature of their work, which requires constant face-to-face interaction with customers, most caddies have endured sexual harassment and assault without reporting it.

Kim Yuri, the organization director of the National Women’s Labor Union, said, “Management exploits the fact that caddies are classified as special employment workers to easily dismiss them when they try to form unions. This is one of the factors lowering unionization rates among caddies. Sexual harassment and assault are very frequent issues in the field, but caddies without unions have nowhere appropriate to report such incidents, making it even harder for them to come forward,” she said.

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