Controversy Over Public Hearing Remarks: "Women and Youth Buy Chanel with Unemployment Benefits"

"Criticism Continues Over 'Divisive Remarks Between Men and Women'"

At a public hearing held by the People Power Party and the government to improve the unemployment benefits system, criticism arose over remarks that discriminated against female and young workers.

Public Hearing on Unemployment Benefits System Improvement Held on the 12th [Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 12th, the People Power Party's Special Committee on Labor Reform held a public hearing on improving the unemployment benefits system at the National Assembly.

On that day, an official in charge of unemployment benefits at the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office stated, "Men who have worked long-term and suddenly become unemployed come to the labor office with dark expressions, but women and young people whose contract periods have expired come smiling, saying they will take this opportunity to rest," sparking controversy.

He continued, "While receiving unemployment benefits, they go on overseas trips and enjoy buying Chanel sunglasses or clothes that they couldn't afford when working with their own money," adding, "From our perspective, we think 'this is not right'."

Park Dae-chul, the chairman of the People Power Party's Policy Committee who hosted the public hearing, mentioned the official's remarks again at a special lecture held at a hotel in Seoul that day, saying, "(Among those receiving unemployment benefits) there is a group who receive benefits with very bright faces, wearing luxury sunglasses and traveling abroad."

He also emphasized, "Currently, the main workforce in small and medium-sized enterprises is in their 50s and 60s, and people in their 20s do not work much."

Park Dae-chul, Chairman of the Policy Committee [Photo by Yonhap News]

The remarks have been criticized for potentially inciting gender and generational conflicts.

Ok Ji-won, former vice chairperson of the People Power Party's Central Women's Committee and a candidate for youth supreme council member in the recent March 8 party convention, stated on Facebook, "The government official's gender-dividing remarks at today's unemployment benefits-related party-government meeting were highly inappropriate regardless of party affiliation." She added, "Are men supposed to be diligent workers and women portrayed as extravagant 'doenjangnyeo' (a derogatory term for materialistic women)?" and questioned, "What era is this outdated 'doenjangnyeo' agitation from?"

She further said, "I don't understand why men and women are brought up in discussions about unemployment benefits, but do young women have to apply for unemployment benefits wearing shabby clothes and with a defeated expression as if they lost their country?" She added, "At the very least, gender-dividing remarks should no longer appear at government-related public hearings, and if they do, a clear expression of regret should be made."

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