'From poor jobs to dignified ones' — lawmaker focuses on labor reform, public service quality
Priorities include direct employment for call center workers, better conditions for Korean-language teachers
22 years in private sector inform her public-service philosophy
Calls for TBS normalization, reassessment of Han River ferry operations
Park Yu-jin, a re-elected Seoul Metropolitan Council member representing the Democratic Party of Korea's Eunpyeong District 3, has made improving job quality the defining mission of her tenure in the 12th Seoul Metropolitan Council. Her legislative philosophy goes beyond simply creating new jobs — she wants to transform precarious, low-quality positions into dignified ones where workers are genuinely respected.
"Jobs are the most important foundation determining a person's self-respect and independence," Park said in an interview Wednesday. "I will focus not just on the number of jobs but on raising their quality so that workers are treated with respect."
She described jobs as "the most cherished flower in life," saying it is the duty of a public official to ensure that workers in vulnerable conditions can work in better environments.
Before entering politics, Park spent 22 years in the private sector. She described her life since becoming an elected official as "life season two," saying she finds fulfillment in working for the public good.
She identified "efficiency" and "public interest" as the biggest differences between the private and public sectors. While performance and speed matter most in business, she said, procedure and public accountability must come first in the public sphere. Four years of council work, she added, had deepened her appreciation for public values and civic trust.
She cited the independent film venue "Oh! Jaemidong" in Chungmuro as a prime example. When the planned development of a Seoul Film Center raised concerns about the closure of the existing space and the employment of its staff, she used administrative audit proceedings to push for a resolution — ultimately securing an extension of the venue's operations.
"Creating new facilities is important, but protecting the cultural assets and community values that citizens have built over many years is also a vital role of public administration," Park said.
Improving conditions for Korean-language teachers and call center workers
Among her top priorities for the 12th council term, Park highlighted improving working conditions for Korean-language teachers and pushing for the direct employment of call center workers at Seoul city-affiliated agencies.
Park said demand for Korean-language education has grown steadily with the rise in foreign students, yet many Korean-language teachers remain in unstable employment arrangements. She said institutional measures are needed to guarantee these teachers a status and compensation commensurate with the role they play in the classroom.
She also flagged the direct employment of call center workers at Seoul city-affiliated agencies — including the Seoul Housing and Urban Development Corporation, Seoul Metro and the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation — as a pressing issue. Because call center staff serve as the essential link between citizens and public institutions, she said, stable employment conditions are directly tied to the quality of public services.
"Direct employment is not just a matter for workers — it is a condition for providing citizens with more stable, higher-quality service," Park said. "I will work to ensure that the direct employment that was promised is no longer delayed."
Park also outlined plans to expand public policy using AI and eco-friendly technology. She said she is reviewing ways to introduce biodegradable hygiene products in nursing hospitals and care facilities to reduce waste while supporting the growth of startups with relevant technology.
She also plans to pursue a public health initiative using AI-based image analysis to detect early signs of lung cancer in chest X-rays.
She said innovative technology must not remain a mere demonstration but must translate into protecting workers' health, improving care environments and creating quality jobs. She added that if Seoul actively incorporates such technology into public services, the city can achieve two goals at once — improving residents' quality of life and fostering business growth.
'TBS needs to be restored, Han River ferry operations need a rethink'
Park also shared her views on major Seoul city issues. On TBS, she said institutional groundwork is needed to restore its function as a public broadcaster, and she pledged to take an active role in discussions over related ordinances.
On the Han River ferry service, she said its effectiveness as a commuter transport option, its safety and its operating costs all need to be comprehensively reassessed. Rather than clinging to the original goals, she suggested the city could consider reorienting operations toward tourism and Han River leisure experiences.
On the controversy over the student rights ordinance, she stressed that students must not face discrimination on grounds of pregnancy, childbirth or sexual orientation, and said the issue should be approached with a focus on students' basic rights and the realities of the classroom rather than political debate.
"I want to do legislative work that strengthens the foundations supporting citizens' everyday lives rather than chasing flashy achievements," Park said. "I will listen to the end to citizens who have been wronged, and I will do my utmost to turn even one more precarious job into a better one."
7toy7@heraldcorp.com
