Gwarosa: as decorrências da extenuante jornada de trabalho na Coreia do Sul

Abstract

The contemporary society can be defined as a fatigue society, as characterized by the South Korean philosopher Byung-Chul Han. This is evident in the transformations of the labor market and their respective effects on workers' lives. Based on this premise, this article conducts a comparative analysis of labor laws in Brazil and South Korea, grounded in the guidelines of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The aim is to understand how socioeconomic and cultural contexts influence the application of worker protection standards. South Korea's labor context serves as the case study due to the duality of being a global model of economic, technological, and educational development while grappling with the consequences of excessive work, a phenomenon known as gwarosa, and the challenges of effectively reducing working hours. The research also addresses the global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which expanded discussions on remote work, informality, and new forms of employment. The methodology adopted involves interdisciplinary research based on legislative document analysis, bibliographic review, and case study analysis. Based on legislative and social studies, the article concludes that both countries face significant challenges in aligning their labor practices with recommended international standards, emphasizing the need for structural reforms that prioritize workers’ dignity, health, and safety in an ever-changing labor market.