In brief
Temporary workers like Kim Hyoung-su, who has taken to a tower to protest labor inequality, highlight critical issues affecting many ahead of the presidential election.
Atop a 98-foot traffic camera tower in central Seoul, Kim Hyoung-su has made his makeshift home under a small tarpaulin for nearly 80 days, drawing attention to a pressing issue of labor inequality in South Korea. His protest, which began on March 14, embodies the struggle faced by thousands of subcontracted workers at the Hanwha Ocean shipyard, where disparities in pay have become a pivotal topic ahead of the presidential election on Tuesday."I feel like an animal in a cage, eating, sleeping, and relieving myself in the same place," Kim stated from his elevated shelter, determined to make the plights of workers like himself known to society. At 52, Kim describes the discrimination felt daily at the shipyard, where subcontracted workers, despite sharing the same workspaces, uniforms, and commutes as direct employees, earn only half their salaries.From bus rides to uniforms, the experience of working at Hanwha is shared, yet the financial divide is stark. Kim’s activism, which has captured public attention, aims to address the inequalities and force candidates in the upcoming election to confront the realities faced by many workers. With his commitment visibly represented through his protest, Kim hopes that his sacrifices will initiate a broader dialogue on labor justice in South Korea.
