By Choi Ha-young
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was criticized Monday for its inaction about the abuse of unpaid internships at foreign embassies here during a National Assembly audit.
Rep. Lee Tae-kyu of the People's Party grilled Minister Kang Kyung-wha over the ministry's alleged ignorance of the issue.
"According to Article 28 of the Republic of Korea's Private International Law, foreign governmental bodies based in Seoul should respect the local Labor Law," Rep. Lee said. "Such unpaid internship programs are illegal, so the foreign ministry should investigate the practice."
Citing an article published by The Korea Times, July 17, the lawmaker called for the ministry to conduct a full-scale investigation. The story, titled "US Embassy, UNHCR exploit interns," was about hardship and unfair treatment faced by unpaid interns at foreign organizations here.
Rep. Lee stressed the ministry has a legal responsibility to address the problem.
"However, the ministry is sitting idle," Lee said.
Kang said the ministry has no exact data on the unpaid interns in the embassies. "It's true that the ministry doesn't have an overall grasp of unpaid internships," she said. "However, the ministry requests a police investigation once irregularities are submitted and explains local Labor Law to diplomats."
Since the foreign ministry failed to submit the total number of unpaid interns at each embassy, Lee's office gathered data. Seven of 14 embassies investigated were operating unpaid internship programs, according to Lee's material.
Three countries ― the United States, Brazil and Ireland ― were hiring unpaid interns as of this year. The Ecuadorian Embassy also adopted unpaid programs last year. The document showed that the Swedish Embassy ran an unpaid internship program in 2014; the Finish Embassy in 2011; and the Australian Embassy in 2008.
Lee also criticized Korean embassies abroad that are recruiting young Koreans with no financial compensation. The lawmaker gave the example of the South Korean Embassy in Panama which advertised an unpaid internship program in August. The announcement reads: "The selected intern should bear all expenses during one's stay in Panama."
This is against the President Moon Jae-in's labor policy. After taking office in May, the liberal administration announced it will abolish low-paid internships in Cheong Wa Dae and minimize the portion of non-regular workers in state-run institutions.
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| Rep. Lee Tae-kyu |
Rep. Lee Tae-kyu of the People's Party grilled Minister Kang Kyung-wha over the ministry's alleged ignorance of the issue.
"According to Article 28 of the Republic of Korea's Private International Law, foreign governmental bodies based in Seoul should respect the local Labor Law," Rep. Lee said. "Such unpaid internship programs are illegal, so the foreign ministry should investigate the practice."
Citing an article published by The Korea Times, July 17, the lawmaker called for the ministry to conduct a full-scale investigation. The story, titled "US Embassy, UNHCR exploit interns," was about hardship and unfair treatment faced by unpaid interns at foreign organizations here.
Rep. Lee stressed the ministry has a legal responsibility to address the problem.
"However, the ministry is sitting idle," Lee said.
Kang said the ministry has no exact data on the unpaid interns in the embassies. "It's true that the ministry doesn't have an overall grasp of unpaid internships," she said. "However, the ministry requests a police investigation once irregularities are submitted and explains local Labor Law to diplomats."
Since the foreign ministry failed to submit the total number of unpaid interns at each embassy, Lee's office gathered data. Seven of 14 embassies investigated were operating unpaid internship programs, according to Lee's material.
Three countries ― the United States, Brazil and Ireland ― were hiring unpaid interns as of this year. The Ecuadorian Embassy also adopted unpaid programs last year. The document showed that the Swedish Embassy ran an unpaid internship program in 2014; the Finish Embassy in 2011; and the Australian Embassy in 2008.
Lee also criticized Korean embassies abroad that are recruiting young Koreans with no financial compensation. The lawmaker gave the example of the South Korean Embassy in Panama which advertised an unpaid internship program in August. The announcement reads: "The selected intern should bear all expenses during one's stay in Panama."
This is against the President Moon Jae-in's labor policy. After taking office in May, the liberal administration announced it will abolish low-paid internships in Cheong Wa Dae and minimize the portion of non-regular workers in state-run institutions.
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