62% Koreans in their 20s "I can't take paid vacation easily" … The reason is "the eyes of bosses and seniors"

Amid the controversy over the South Korean government's "restructuring of the maximum 69-hour work week," survey results reveal the reality that more than half of working adults in their 20s have not been able to use their annual paid leave for even six days.

In particular, many respondents answered that the reason why it is difficult to use paid leave is "in the eyes of superiors and seniors." The paradoxical remarks of the Minister of Labor turned out to be 'embarrassing' in the end.

On March 19th, the incorporated association "Workplace Power Harassment 119" commissioned the polling company "EM Brain Public" to conduct a questionnaire survey of 1,000 adults aged 19 and over nationwide for a week from the 3rd.

According to the results of this survey, 55.1% of respondents in their 20s used less than 6 days of annual paid leave last year. 13.6% of respondents in their 20s who used 6 to 8 days of annual paid leave answered that they used all of the legally mandated 15 days of annual paid leave (work period of 2 years or more). less than 9.7% of the total.

Among those in their 30s, 33.8% answered that they used less than 6 days of annual paid leave, which was the highest percentage. Among respondents in their 40s and 50s, 40.6% and 40.5%, respectively, spent less than six days.

Among all respondents, 80.6% answered that they could not use up all 15 days of annual paid vacation, and 23.0% of those in their 40s answered that they had taken more than 15 days of vacation.

In addition, 40.6% of respondents answered that they "cannot use paid leave freely," which is less than half. The lower the age group and job grade, the higher the ratio of those who answered that they "cannot take time off freely."

Prior to this, Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jung-sik announced a "restructuring plan for working up to 69 hours per week," and pointed out the "right awareness of the MZ generation" as the danger of misuse by employers. It turned out to be a big difference.

At the time, Minister Lee said, "These days, the MZ generation is showing a very strong sense of entitlement, saying, 'Vice Chairman, come out!' and 'Chairman, come here.'" He frowned upon the controversial "restructuring proposal for a maximum of 69 hours per week" by calling for voluntary responses from employees rather than systematic supplementary measures.