Oversight Injected into Unregulated Media Industries
On July 29th, a bill passed by the Korean National Assembly in January will become active. Aimed at working conditions for youths working in the media industries, the new law will add protection for minors against overwork and overt sexualization in the entertainment fields.
Under the new legal provisions, children under 15 will not be allowed to work longer than 35 hours a week, while those aged 15 to 18 should not exceed the standard 40 hour work week. In addition, all minors must receive consent from guardians to perform between 10pm and 6am.
Also included is a regulation whereby minors cannot be forced to wear revealing clothing, dance provocatively or take part in simulations of rape or sexual abuse. Recently, 14-year-old KIM Sae-ron’s critically acclaimed turn in Cannes invitee A Girl at My Door raised concerns for its highly suggestive nature.
Violations will be met with warnings from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and further failure to comply will incur fines of approximately USD 10,000.
Long known for its harsh working conditions, which see cast and crew working around the clock in frequently dangerous environments, the entertainment sector has, of late, become a target for reform for the government, not to mention workers in the field. This new bill follows a standard labor contract that was agreed upon by a coalition within the film industry to improve working conditions for film crew members, whose insurance, holidays and pay are rarely protected.