hankyoreh

a popular South Korean TV series about the lives of young interns and irregular workers

Last year, a university student identified by the surname Kim, 24, spent two months “interning” at an art museum in Seoul. Early on, he had hoped to be able to use his major background and learn about exhibition work. The reality was quite different. There was no intern supervisor or educational program, Kim said. Instead, over 90% of his duties involved chores like cleaning and washing dishes.

“I wasn’t learning anything,” Kim recalled. “It felt like I was there for volunteer service. After I finished my internship, I was physically and mentally wiped out.”

Another student, Park, who is in her twenties, said she learned almost nothing about public relations while interning for the publicity team at a local film festival.

“My ‘mentor’ worked for the planning team. They didn’t really know anything about PR, so even when I had questions I couldn’t get any proper instruction,” Park recalled.

“I started interning thinking I would earn 700,000 won (US$640) a month, but they only paid me 400,000 won (US$370),” she added.

Many similar stories of the tearful reality facing “interns” exploited as cheap labor were shared at a “young workers’ transitional labor testimonial meeting” staged by the Youth Union on Jan. 28 at the National Assembly Hall in Seoul’s Yeouido neighborhood.

The term “transitional labor” used by the Youth Union refers to trainee (trial) and intern (education/practical training) work. Trainees are protected by Labor Standards Act terms regarding minimum wage, severance pay, and rest time. Interns, who typically go to work at other companies after a brief training period, are generally not considered workers.

Although the positions are presented as “internships,” companies often give interns the same duties as trainees and trial employees.

“If you look at past Supreme Court decisions, they see trainees - including interns - as workers subject to the terms of the Labor Standards Act if they provide work for the company and continue receiving the employer’s orders to perform duties,” explained labor attorney Lee Sang-hun.

Youth Union leader Kim Min-su called for “recognition of the reality that there is an intermediate stage of ‘transitional labor’ between university and other education and entering the labor market.”

“Instead of telling young people who are faced with the harsh conditions of transitional labor to just tough it out and try their best, we need institutions in place to provide support with education and training so they can successfully enter the labor market,” Kim said.

By Kim Kyu-nam, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]