1. Introduction to the text
This article discusses a recent incident at a bagel company where an employee died, leading to a 2.4-fold increase in workplace accidents at the company within a year. The article explores the complexities around determining whether the employee’s death was due to overwork.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning | Contextual Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 직원 사망 | Jikwon sarang | Employee’s death | The article discusses an incident where an employee at a bagel company died. |
| 산재 | Sanje | Industrial accident | The number of industrial accident claims at the company increased 2.4 times in a year. |
| 해당 | Haedang | Relevant, corresponding | The industrial accident claims were at the company’s workplace. |
| 업체 | Eobche | Company, business | The article is about a bagel company where an employee died. |
| 베이글 | Beigel | Bagel | The company that the deceased employee worked for was a famous bagel cafe. |
| 유명 | Yumyeong | Famous, well-known | The bagel cafe where the employee worked was a famous one. |
| 과로사 | Gwallosa | Death from overwork | The family of the deceased employee suspected that their death was due to overwork. |
| 의혹 | Uirok | Suspicion, doubt | The family raised suspicions that the death was due to overwork. |
| 근로감독 | Geullyo gamsok | Labor inspection | The Ministry of Employment and Labor initiated a labor inspection in response to the suspicions. |
| 심근경색 | Simgeun gyeongsaek | Myocardial infarction | Medically, death from overwork can be caused by conditions like myocardial infarction. |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
지난 7월, 유명 베이글 카페에서 일하던 관리직 직원이 회사 숙소에서 숨졌습니다. 유족 등이 장시간 근로로 인해 과로사했다는 의혹을 제기하면서 고용노동부는 근로감독에 착수했습니다.
In July last year, a management-level employee at a famous bagel cafe died at the company’s dormitory. The family raised suspicions that the death was due to overwork, prompting the Ministry of Employment and Labor to initiate a labor inspection.
의학적으로는 심근경색이나 뇌출혈 등 심혈관질환을 악화시켜 사망에 이르게 하는 것을 의미합니다. 하지만 노동자가 뇌심혈관계 질환으로 사망하더라도 모두 과로사로 인정되는 건 아닙니다.
Medically, death from overwork can be caused by conditions like myocardial infarction or cerebral hemorrhage that worsen cardiovascular diseases. However, not all worker deaths from cerebrovascular or cardiovascular diseases are recognized as deaths from overwork.
이번에 사망한 베이글 카페 업체 직원의 경우 부검에서 사인으로 단정할 만한 질병이 발견되지 않은 거로 전해졌습니다. 과로 여부는 아직 확인되지 않았지만, 해당 업체 사업장에서는 1년 만에 직원 산재 신청이 2.4배 이상 늘어난 것으로 확인됐습니다.
In the case of the deceased employee at the bagel cafe, it was reported that no definitive cause of death was found in the autopsy. While the cause of overwork has not yet been confirmed, it was found that the number of industrial accident claims at the company’s workplace increased by more than 2.4 times in just one year.
이처럼 과로사 여부를 판단하기 위해서는 개인의 건강 상태와 근무 환경 등 다양한 요인을 종합적으로 고려해야 합니다. 이번 사건을 계기로 근로자 보호 대책 마련이 시급한 상황입니다.
Thus, determining whether a death is due to overwork requires comprehensive consideration of various factors, including the individual’s health condition and work environment. This incident highlights the urgent need to establish measures to protect workers.
기업은 직원들의 근로 환경과 건강 관리에 더 신경 써야 할 것 같습니다. 정부 또한 근로 기준법 준수 여부를 더욱 엄격히 감독해야 할 것입니다.
Companies should pay more attention to their employees’ work environment and health management. The government also needs to more strictly supervise compliance with labor standards laws.
이번 사건을 계기로 우리 사회가 일과 삶의 균형을 위해 어떤 노력을 해야 할지 진지하게 고민해 볼 필요가 있습니다.
This incident calls for our society to seriously consider what efforts are needed to achieve a better work-life balance.
4. Reading comprehension questions
- What was the main incident discussed in the article?
- What were the suspicions raised by the family of the deceased employee?
- What are some of the medical conditions that can lead to death from overwork?
- Why is it not always easy to determine if a worker’s death was due to overwork?
- What changes do the article suggest are needed to better protect workers?
5. Cultural and historical notes
The issue of “death from overwork,” or “karoshi” as it is known in Japan, has been a significant concern in many Asian countries with intense work cultures. This incident at the bagel company highlights the ongoing challenges in properly identifying and addressing the complex factors that can lead to such tragic outcomes for workers. Addressing the root causes of overwork and promoting a healthier work-life balance remains an important social and policy priority.