President Yoon: 'The Blue House staff are under superhuman strain, I'm sorry, but we're in a war-like situation right now'
President Yoon expressed regrets about the excessive working hours of Blue House staff, emphasizing the urgency of the current national situation.
President Yoon Suk-yeol addressed the excessive overtime hours faced by Blue House staff, which reportedly amounts to an average of 62 hours per person monthly. In a statement shared on social media, he acknowledged the 'superhuman strain' that the staff is under, attributing it to the current critical state of the nation, which he likened to a war-like situation. This comment highlights the urgent demands placed on public servants amid national crises.
The report shared by President Yoon indicated that Blue House employees are working around 3.7 times more overtime than other government officials and 8.4 times more than average workers. A particularly intense month of workload was cited as July of last year, with employees averaging 69 overtime hours, a record high for any government administration to date. Yoon emphasized the importance of public service during these challenging times and called for the nation's support and engagement to achieve significant outcomes.
The president's remarks reflect ongoing pressures on government employees, raising questions about the sustainability of such intense work environments. Yoon's commitment to meaningful accomplishments suggests that he views these sacrifices as vital to the country's future. His comments also aim to rally public support, framing the struggle of the public servants as part of a larger effort to ensure stability and peace for South Korea in turbulent times.