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The Gong Cha franchise manager asked his employees to inform at work in case of any plane crash.
Gong Cha’s owner apologised for the manager’s actions.
There has been a substantial rise in the debate over work-life balance, which prioritises employees’ mental health and personal growth to maintain overall job satisfaction instead of simply making them overwork, which can lead to stress and burnout, significantly reducing productivity. With the discussion gaining momentum over the past years, another case shocked the internet after a Korean shop manager instructed his employees to choose their work over personal safety. The incident took place in the wake of the deadly air crash in South Korea when the Jeju Air flight collided on the runway, bursting into flames at the Muan International Airport.
Nearly 180 passengers were killed in the plane crash that took place in the morning of December 29, 2024. Following the incident, a manager of the Gong Cha Korea franchise made insensitive remarks towards the employees, sparking a massive outrage among individuals. According to the South China Morning Post, a person who worked as an intern at the Gong Cha shop took to social media to share messages from their manager.
“Did you see the plane explosion today? There are some people going overseas during the holiday. If a crash happens, send me a message saying, ‘Hire an intern’ first before contacting mum and dad. Do not be absent,” he wrote in the post, directly quoting his manager.
KR work culture in a nutshell: A Gong Cha manager in Shinsaege Store jokingly told his employees “Anyone planning to travel, in case your plane crashes first send me a text & then to your family so that I can find a replacement”. Clearly it didn’t augur well and everyone is angry pic.twitter.com/sApSxcsBmB— Notepaid (@Notepaid) December 30, 2024
The post went instantly viral with social media users bashing the outlet and the employers. A user wrote, “Please do not support Gong Cha by spending your money there. Is this really something you should say to a part-time worker? As an adult, don’t you feel ashamed? This is so heartless,” whereas another added, “Is this person even human? Making such remarks right after a national tragedy?”
The reactions also prompted Gong Cha Korea to apologise. On December 30, the franchise issued a public apology, also assuring appropriate measures against the staff. While the statement explained that the incident resulted from the inappropriate personal actions of a franchise manager, the old shop owner also expressed his regret in another handwritten letter stating, “This entire situation arose from my negligence as the branch owner, and I will deeply reflect and strive to thoroughly improve store operations and staff training to prevent recurrence. We sincerely seek forgiveness from all those who were hurt by this incident and will do our utmost to regain the trust of our customers.”
