"All-Day Work Required for Meal Provision" Controversy Over Passion Pay for Volunteers at Moon Pyeong Bookstore

Recruiting 50 Volunteers on a First-Come, First-Served Basis via SNS
"They Called It Income-Led Growth..." Netizens Criticize

Recently, former President Moon Jae-in's 'Pyeongsan Bookstore' has been embroiled in a controversy over unpaid labor while recruiting volunteers.

On the 5th, Pyeongsan Bookstore announced on social media that it would recruit 50 volunteers on a first-come, first-served basis.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Volunteers are expected to work until December under the condition that they receive bookstore goods (related merchandise), lunch, and snacks. Regarding meals, it was announced that only those working full-day shifts among the three time slots?morning, afternoon, and full day?would be provided with meals.

Online communities responded to the announcement with comments such as, "Why are volunteers being used in a private business?" and "This is excessive unpaid labor." One netizen wrote, "Former President Moon raised the minimum wage sharply during his administration under the policy of income-led growth, yet now he is recruiting volunteers, which makes no sense."

The fact that meals were not provided to morning and afternoon shift workers was also criticized. Angry responses like "Even volunteers should be given meals," and "Are morning shift workers supposed to work until 2 p.m. and then eat alone?" were common.

Kim Min-su, spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated, "Although they say they are recruiting volunteers, in reality, they are forcing unpaid labor that should be abolished," and criticized, "Former President Moon, who recklessly raised the minimum wage, openly introduced unpaid work. This is a case of 'if I do it, it's romance; if others do it, it's an affair' DNA being expressed."

Opened on the 26th of last month, Pyeongsan Bookstore was established at former President Moon's own expense in Pyeongsan Village, Yangsan, Gyeongnam, where his private residence is located. It is reported that over 10,000 people visited within a week of opening, and 5,582 books were sold.

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