Gig Economy Comes to Korea

#. Gig Economy Comes to Korea

 

In the past, most people worked for set hours at one place or company, often for their entire career.

In the digital age, however, this longstanding concept of work has changed greatly.

A large part of the change is due to the so-called gig economy.

A gig economy is a system made up of short-term positions.

Gig workers get hired by a company for a specific project or a certain period of time.

They include freelancers, independent contractors, and part-time employees.

The gig economy allows both employer and employee to be flexible.

Companies can hire many people when they are needed the most.

The companies can also avoid the cost of paying workers when they are less needed.

Meanwhile, gig workers are not tied down to one employer or workplace.

So, they have the freedom to work at different locations and set their own schedule.

As freelancers, they have the opportunity to earn more per hour than full-times.

In Korea, this trend is being called platform work, because most of the exchange is being done through apps and other online platforms.

Mostly they are delivery workers such as those who work for food delivery apps and online malls.

However, the gig economy also comes at a cost.

Mainly, gig workers suffer from a lack of job security.

They may suddenly experience a drop in the number of gigs due to unforeseen circumstances.

Also, gig workers don't receive the same benefits as full-time workers.

For example, they don't get to enjoy paid vacations and support for health insurance.

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• longstanding 오랫동안[여러 해]에 걸친, 다년간의.

• gig economy 긱 이코노미, 임시직 선호 경제((일자리에 계약직이나 프리랜서 등을 주로 채용하는 현상))

• independent ˌɪndɪˈpendənt 독립된 (=self-governing), 독립적인 [독자적인] independence 독립

• contractor kənˈtræktə 계약자 또는 하청업자 individual business 개인사업자

• tie somebody down (to something / to doing something) ~를 (~에/~을 하도록) 얽매다 [구속하다]

• come at a cost 대가/비용이 들다/발생하다/따르다, 대가/비용을 지불해야 하다

• unforeseen |ʌnfɔːr│siːn 예측하지 못한, 뜻밖의 (=unexpected) (→foresee)