Promotion Denied: South Korea's Broadcast Industry's Precarious Labor Reality

The Hankyoreh brings us a poignant personal narrative that cuts to the heart of a pervasive issue in South Korea: the precariousness of labor, particularly within the media industry. The story revolves around 'J,' a broadcast production assistant who received the exciting news of a promotion to producer, only to have that hope dashed when informed their contract would not be renewed due to its impending expiration.

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I still can't believe it. I was told I'd be promoted to PD starting next week.

This incident, as detailed by the author, a literature professor and writer, underscores the harsh realities faced by many young professionals in broadcasting. The system often relies on dispatched workers or short-term contract employees, who, despite their talent and dedication, are subject to rigid legal limits on employment duration. The law stipulates that dispatched workers cannot be employed for more than two years without conversion to permanent or fixed-term status, a loophole that companies exploit by simply ending contracts. J, like many others, was a victim of this system, working diligently only to face an abrupt end to their promising career path.

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After asking again, they said it's only to work for the remaining period. That is, because they are short-handed these days, I'll be a PD for the remaining three months, but as per the rules, I have to leave.

The author expresses deep personal shame and regret, not only for J but for the broader failure of educators and the industry to address these systemic injustices. The piece reflects on the irony of teaching students about the power of media to shape society while remaining complicit in a system that exploits its own workers. The narrative questions the integrity of media organizations that broadcast messages of fairness and justice yet operate with such cold, pragmatic disregard for their employees' futures.

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The broadcasting station's coldness, which cuts the manuscript fee of a writer who couldn't come to work because they were sick, while reporting 'If you're sick, take a rest' during the COVID-19 period.

From our perspective at the Hankyoreh, this is more than just an individual's misfortune; it's a microcosm of the challenges facing South Korea's youth and the ethical dilemmas confronting its established institutions. The story calls for a fundamental re-evaluation of labor practices within the broadcasting sector and beyond. It urges a move towards greater stability and fairness for contract and dispatched workers, emphasizing that the future of media, and indeed society, depends on upholding principles of justice not just in reporting, but in practice. The author's inability to call J, burdened by this realization, speaks volumes about the weight of this unresolved issue.

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I implore the government to first listen to the voices of countless young people in dispatched, contract, and non-regular positions. It's not someone else's problem.