Braving the Typhoon to Commute: The Plight of 'K-Jikjangin' Going to and Leaving Work...

Southern Region Worried About Morning Commute, Central Region About Evening Commute
"Government Recommendations Have Less Influence on Companies"

"The damage from last year's flooding, such as public transportation paralysis and flooding of buildings and vehicles, comes to mind, and I'm worried whether I can safely return home during rush hour. On days like this, I hope companies focus on protecting their employees and take proactive and aggressive measures." (Park, 33, working in Seoul)

As Typhoon Khanun, the 6th typhoon crossing the Korean Peninsula, approached, the government and local governments entered an emergency response system, but 'K workers' headed to work despite the bad weather. Those who managed to get to work in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas are feeling anxious about their commute home as the typhoon is expected to make landfall in the afternoon.

'K Office Worker' on the way to work posted on X (formerly Twitter) on the 10th. [Image source=X]

On the morning of the 10th, real-time trending search terms on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) included 'Typhoon Khanun' along with 'K workers' and 'early leave.' Searching for 'K workers' revealed photos of flooded commutes with captions like 'K workers go to work through water' and 'The woes of K workers,' showing proof photos of employees having to go to work despite the typhoon conditions.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) had requested active adjustment of commuting hours for workers other than those involved in disaster response, considering the landfall time and path of Typhoon Khanun as it approached the Korean Peninsula.

However, 'K workers' collectively said it was practically difficult to adjust commuting hours. Around 9:20 a.m., Typhoon Khanun made landfall in Geoje, Gyeongnam, bringing heavy rain and strong winds mainly to coastal areas of the Gyeongsang region during commuting hours, but southern region workers braved the rain and wind to get to work as usual. Ahn (27, female), living in Changwon, Gyeongnam, said, "I saw the road in front of my house flooded on the way to work. I commute by car, but visibility was poor, and the puddles and slippery roads were very dangerous." She added, "I felt uneasy, but I still went to work. I think if the commuting time had been delayed a bit, the risks could have been reduced."

On the 10th, with heavy rain falling in Seoul due to the impact of Typhoon Khanun, an office worker in Yeouido is walking with an umbrella. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

Commuters in the Seoul metropolitan area are worried about the upcoming rush hour. As the typhoon moves northward toward the metropolitan area, strong rain and wind are forecasted during the evening commute. Kim (28, male), who works in the Gangnam area of Seoul, said, "Last year, there was flooding during rush hour, so I'm worried that the commute home might be delayed again." He added, "The company has not officially issued a work-from-home recommendation, and attendance is decided based on the will of team leaders, so only some teams work from home, which is unfortunate." Hwang (27, female) also said, "The commute to work was okay because it wasn't during the typhoon's arrival time, but I'm scared and worried about flying objects or store signs hitting me on the way home." She added, "On days like this, I wish the government would declare a holiday."

As Typhoon Khanun made landfall on the Korean Peninsula, access control began on the morning of the 10th at Hongjecheon in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul to prepare for the typhoon. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

There were also criticisms that the government's recommendation to adjust commuting hours did not significantly affect general companies. Park (33, male), working in Seoul, said, "There is a recommendation to adjust commuting hours considering the typhoon's path, but I question its effectiveness." He added, "If the government truly cared about typhoon damage, wouldn't it have been possible to implement more active measures like mandatory work-from-home?"

Experts suggested that the government should emphasize more that companies need to comply when issuing disaster-related guidelines. Professor Gong Ha-seong of the Department of Fire and Disaster Prevention at Woosuk University said, "If an accident occurs during commuting, the company could be held responsible. Explaining this clearly when issuing recommendations is also a good approach."

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