Hankyoreh Questions: Is the Media's 'Blame the Yellow Envelope Act' Narrative Justified?

The recent tragic death of a cargo worker, who was struck by a replacement vehicle during a strike, has been met with a predictable outcry from certain segments of the media. Specifically, several conservative newspapers, including Chosun Ilbo, Munhwa Ilbo, and Kookmin Ilbo, have seized upon this incident to criticize the recently implemented 'Yellow Envelope Act.' Their headlines and editorials broadly suggest that this law, which aims to hold primary contractors more accountable for subcontracted labor, is somehow responsible for the worker's demise. This narrative, however, is a gross misrepresentation of the facts and a deliberate distortion of the law's purpose.

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Is the media's 'It all comes down to the Yellow Envelope Act' narrative justified?

As journalists at Hankyoreh, we believe it is our duty to present the truth, even when it contradicts the prevailing narrative pushed by conservative outlets. The fundamental issue here is not the 'Yellow Envelope Act,' but the protracted conflict between subcontracted cargo workers and their primary contractor, BGF Retail (operator of CU convenience stores). For years, these workers have sought to negotiate better working conditions, including reduced working hours, directly with BGF Retail. However, the company has consistently refused, insisting that negotiations should only occur with the subcontracting logistics firms. This refusal to acknowledge BGF Retail's de facto employer status and its significant influence over labor conditions is the root cause of the ongoing labor dispute.

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Some media outlets are using this unfortunate accident, where a striking cargo worker was hit by a replacement vehicle dispatched by the primary contractor, to attack the 'Yellow Envelope Act.'

The 'Yellow Envelope Act' was enacted precisely to address such situations. It provides a legal framework for subcontracted workers to negotiate with primary contractors who exercise substantial control over their labor conditions. This law does not create conflict; it seeks to resolve it by providing a mechanism for fair negotiation. The accident, therefore, is not a consequence of the law, but rather a result of the primary contractor's continued refusal to engage in good-faith bargaining. To blame the 'Yellow Envelope Act' is to ignore the history of this dispute and to deliberately shift responsibility away from those who hold the real power. This selective reporting and blame-shifting tactic, often seen in conservative media, serves to undermine labor rights and obscure the systemic issues at play.

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The fundamental cause of this cargo worker tragedy lies in the long-standing conflict between labor and management over the primary contractor's 'employer status' and its refusal to negotiate.