Some companies are reportedly pressuring employees to use their paid leave ahead of BTS’s long-awaited performance at Gwanghwamun in central Seoul scheduled for Saturday.

According to Gapjil 119, a civic group that advocates for workplace rights, on Wednesday, complaints have been filed from businesses near Gwanghwamun alleging that workers are being forced to take Friday afternoon off due to office closures.

Some were also allegedly instructed not to come to work on the day of the concert and questioned whether companies can mandate the use of paid leave.

As some businesses near the venue have decided to temporarily close citing traffic control and safety concerns, critics say the resulting burden is being shifted onto employees by deducting their paid leave.

“Under the Labor Standards Act, the worker has the right to determine when to use paid leave,” Gapjil 119 said, adding that “requiring employees to use paid leave on specific dates due to company circumstances goes against the spirit of the law and is highly likely to constitute a violation.”

Even at workplaces with fewer than five employees, which are not subject to statutory paid leave provisions, companies must comply if paid leave policies are stipulated in employment rules or contracts. If companies force employees to take leave in violation of such rules, workers may file a complaint with the labor authorities. Violations of the Labor Standards Act can result in up to two years in prison or fines of up to 10 million won ($6,700).

In cases where employees scheduled to work on Saturday are told not to come in, the situation may qualify as a company-initiated shutdown rather than employee responsibility, making them eligible for shutdown allowances. However, such compensation may be difficult to claim at workplaces with fewer than five employees or under freelance contracts.

“While the world is in a festive mood over BTS’s comeback, the meaning of the celebration will be undermined if it leads to labor law violations such as forcing workers to take leave or accept shutdowns,” said Kim Ja-yeon, a labor attorney at Gapjil 119. “Workers in blind spots of labor protections — including those at small workplaces, freelancers and platform workers — need stronger guarantees of their right to rest.”


This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY HAN YOUNG-HYE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]