Lung disease and the fight for compensation in Korea

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👀 Today’s email about:

• Yoon’s ‘unification doctrine’ is to reform North Korea.

• Migrant worker's battle for justice: lung disease and the fight for compensation in Korea.

• LUN8 is celebrating their year-long journey in the K-pop industry with the release of their new album, AWAKENING.

NEWS 📰

Yoon’s ‘unification doctrine’ is to reform North Korea.

President Yoon Suk Yeol outlined a new "Aug. 15 Unification Doctrine" on Thursday, emphasizing a strategy aimed at influencing North Korean residents and challenging the Kim Jong-un regime as part of South Korea's updated approach to unification. This doctrine, presented during Yoon's Liberation Day speech, focuses on instilling a desire for unification in North Koreans by promoting the principles of freedom and enhancing their access to outside information.

A key element of Yoon's doctrine involves increasing North Koreans' exposure to global information through various channels, with the goal of sparking a desire for freedom and change within the country. This approach includes expanding the government's propaganda efforts and supporting non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on human rights in North Korea. Yoon also announced plans to establish a North Korea freedom and human rights fund to officially support these efforts.

While the doctrine maintains an openness to dialogue with North Korea, its strong emphasis on undermining the current regime and pushing for internal change may provoke resistance from Pyongyang. Despite this, Yoon reiterated his willingness to engage in substantive talks aimed at peace, denuclearization, and improving the lives of people in both Koreas.

Yoon also proposed the creation of an "Inter-Korean Working Group" to address a range of issues, including economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, and responses to climate change. He underscored that South Korea's pursuit of unification is aligned with promoting global peace and prosperity, and vowed to work closely with international partners to advance these goals.

Migrant worker's battle for justice: lung disease and the fight for compensation in Korea.

When Ajit Roy first came to Korea in 2011, he was already overqualified with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and dreams of becoming a medical doctor. However, he needed to earn money to support himself and his girlfriend back in Bangladesh. After returning home in 2016, he was devastated to learn that his girlfriend had left him. In 2018, Roy returned to Korea with plans to work for two more years and then pursue a civil servant job in Bangladesh. Unfortunately, the outbreak of COVID-19 forced him to change his plans.

In February 2021, Roy began working at an agricultural machinery factory in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, expecting it to be his final job in Korea. However, this job took a heavy toll on him, leading to a permanent lung condition. Roy, like many other migrant workers, was recruited through Korea's Employment Permit System on an E-9 visa, which typically involves working in hazardous or undesirable jobs that are often avoided by Koreans. Over the past 20 years, nearly one million workers have entered Korea under this scheme.

At the factory, Roy's main responsibility was grinding metal parts, a task that exposed him to dust and metal particles. Despite this, the company provided only a single cotton mask for protection instead of a proper dustproof mask. Roy worked long hours, from 8:30 a.m. to as late as 10 p.m., including Saturdays. After four to five months on the job, Roy began coughing frequently and noticed that his sputum was black. Concerned, he asked for dustproof masks, but his boss accused him of being demanding.

When Roy requested time off to see a doctor, his boss refused, dismissing his health concerns. In September 2021, a company-sponsored health check-up revealed a lung issue, but Roy was not informed of the results. He only discovered this when gathering documents to file for workers' compensation. By then, his condition had worsened, making it difficult for him to breathe or even climb stairs.

In November, Roy finally saw a doctor in Anseong, and in December, he was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease at Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, a permanent condition that reduces the lung's ability to carry oxygen due to scarring. When he needed a guardian for a biopsy, his boss refused to help, leaving Roy to rely on a fellow Bangladeshi in Korea for assistance.

Believing his work caused his illness, Roy filed for compensation with the Korean Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service. However, after a year of waiting, his claim was rejected. The review committee cited his smoking habit and the short duration of his exposure to dust as reasons for denial. However, Professor Kim Hyun-joo from Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital disagreed, stating that Roy's workplace exposure was likely more harmful than his smoking.

The company had downplayed the extent of Roy’s exposure during the review process, claiming that grinding and sanding only accounted for 5% of his job. In contrast, Roy insists these tasks were his primary duties.

Kim Dal-sung, a pastor and migrant worker rights advocate, criticized the Employment Permit System, arguing that it gives employers too much power over workers, making it difficult for them to demand better treatment. Roy has appealed the compensation decision and is awaiting the outcome. Kim hopes the new committee will consider "reasonable likelihood" in occupational disease cases, rather than requiring a clear causal link.

To make matters worse, Roy's E-9 visa expired in May, leaving him without medical insurance and unable to receive treatment for his lung condition and other complications. He now holds a G-1 visa, allowing him to stay in Korea until his compensation case is resolved. Despite his deteriorating health, Roy is determined to fight for his treatment and plans to protest in front of the labor ministry if necessary.

"If I don't get the compensation, I won't be able to receive any treatment in Korea. My only hope is to live a bit longer, and without the compensation, that won't be possible," he said.

ENTERTAINMENT 🌄

LUN8 is celebrating their year-long journey in the K-pop industry with the release of their new album, AWAKENING.

LUN8, a rising K-pop boy band, is making significant strides in the industry with the release of their latest album, "AWAKENING." This marks an exciting chapter for the group, which debuted in June 2023 and quickly followed up with a second mini-album, "BUFF," in March 2024. The group also made their Japanese debut with the single "Evergreen" in June, further expanding their international presence.

The eight-member group, consisting of Jinsu, Chael, Takuma, Junwoo, Dohyun, Ian, Ji Eun-ho, and Eunseop, introduced their new album during a press event at the Yes24 Live Hall in Seoul's Gwangjin District. They described "AWAKENING" as a vibrant and carefree collection perfect for summer, led by the funky single "WHIP," which features an infectious Jersey club rhythm. The album also includes five other tracks — "Ride," "DELULU," "Love Trailer," and "Life is A Movie" — all of which embody a refreshing summer vibe.

Reflecting on their first anniversary, the members expressed a mix of nostalgia and ambition. Ji remarked on the surreal feeling of reaching this milestone, emphasizing their hard work over the past year to present a more mature image. Jinsu shared his growth as an artist, moving from perfecting debut performances to aiming for broader artistic expression in their latest work.

LUN8 members are driven by the desire to establish their name in the global K-pop scene. Eunseop expressed their goal to be recognized for their versatility across different genres, while Dohyun highlighted their aspiration to perform on award show stages by the end of the year. With "AWAKENING," LUN8 is poised to continue their ascent in the competitive K-pop industry, showcasing their evolving artistry and connecting with a growing fanbase..

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