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Online communities
A photograph that lays bare the harsh reality of emotional laborers—workers subjected to indiscriminate verbal abuse and relentless performance pressure—has gone viral across online communities, prompting a strong public response.
The image shows a notice reportedly posted in a counseling center restroom. The printed directive plainly told staff they had to stop crying before returning to their stations, a message that shocked many viewers.
Labor advocates say the sign provides an unvarnished look at how dire conditions can be for workers pushed to their emotional limits.
As the post drew attention, current and former industry workers came forward with harrowing accounts. One long-serving employee described extreme stress endured by colleagues, including instances of miscarriage, and said that demeaning slogans greeted staff at the office entrance.
Officials point to institutional measures put in place, but the prevailing view among workers is that on-the-ground protections remain insufficient.
Since 2018, South Korea has enforced an amendment to the Industrial Safety and Health Act—commonly known as the Emotional Laborer Protection Act—aimed at preventing health damage caused by abusive customers.
Still, many counselors remain exposed to abusive callers and intense pressure to meet call quotas with little meaningful protection. Calls for concrete workplace reforms and a shift in institutional attitudes are growing louder.
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