[Choice Times=Joo-hyun Park, CEO of Jaedam Entertainment]

Workers who had been performing cleaning, landscaping, security, and visitor guidance duties at Cheong Wa Dae have lost their jobs. They were indirectly employed workers hired through subcontractors affiliated with the Cheong Wa Dae Foundation. Since the Yoon Suk-yeol administration opened Cheong Wa Dae to the public, their contracts had been renewed annually. This time, however, the contracts were not extended as President Lee Jae-myung returned to Cheong Wa Dae. The stated reason is that the Cheong Wa Dae Foundation’s purpose will be exhausted by the end of this year and that the Cheong Wa Dae opening project will not continue from 2026, making employment guarantees unnecessary. (Editor’s note)

I pride myself on keeping up with the news, but I only just saw this outrageous story that broke two days ago. For a moment, I blamed myself.

“Have I become this lazy?”

But after thinking it over, I changed my conclusion. This isn’t because I’m lazy. A person should at least be allowed some time to attend year-end gatherings with friends who supported them in every way over the past year.

This government is simply far too “diligent” and “hardworking” when it comes to wrecking the country.

A diplomatic disaster in the morning, a personnel fiasco at noon, an economic collapse in the evening. They destroy systems at a pace so fast that 24 hours a day isn’t enough. How could any individual possibly keep up with that 5G-speed rampage? This news, too, is one byproduct of that “diligent destruction.”

Let’s take a closer look at this case. As you might expect, it’s a story about shamelessness.

As Lee Jae-myung returned to Cheong Wa Dae, more than 200 irregular workers who had been in charge of the Cheong Wa Dae opening operations were notified overnight that their contracts had expired and were pushed out onto the street. And the government’s response? A masterpiece.

“We have no legal responsibility for employment.”

Chilling. Haven’t we heard this line somewhere before?

It’s the standard refrain of conglomerate chairmen who show up at hearings after being coached by lawyers.

“We merely contracted with a subcontractor; we have no obligation of direct employment.”

What have the Democratic Party and the Lee Jae-myung government lectured companies about all along?

“Indirect employment is evil.”
“The prime contractor must take responsibility.”
“We will open an era of zero irregular workers.”

They never stop shouting “respect for labor,” grabbing companies by the collar with raised spears. But once they themselves become the masters, they turn even more vicious than corporations, barking “Follow the law!” as they fire people.

Now here comes the real, bone-crushing comparison.

Look at Coupang, the company the progressive camp loves to demonize.

Coupang directly employs tens of thousands of workers—from logistics center staff to delivery drivers—provides full social insurance, and pays severance. It ran at a loss for 14 years and still maintained employment.

And the Lee Jae-myung government, which brands itself with “respect for labor”? It uses 200 people efficiently when it needs them, then tosses them away like worn-out shoes, telling them to “clear out” because the president needs to move in.

Private companies embrace people; the government discards them.

This is the irony of South Korea in 2025.

To the government officials: before lecturing companies about social responsibility, at least go visit Coupang’s HR department. Learn how not to use people and throw them away.

The roof tiles of Cheong Wa Dae may be blue, but the faces of the workers beneath them turned pale when they received their dismissal notices. Is this really the world you worked so diligently to create?

“A society where labor is respected”?

That exists only as a fantasy novel printed in Democratic Party campaign pamphlets. Honestly, you may have thrown conscience to the dogs long ago, but you have zero qualification to criticize companies.

#RespectForLabor #IrregularWorkers #CheongWaDae