[2026 National Assembly Audit] Korea Expressway Corporation President Yoo Jeonghoon: "Nationwide Survey of Rest Area Working Conditions... Will Include Findings in Reform Plan"

Revealed during the Oct. 8 National Assembly audit by the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee
Yoon Jong-oh: "Workers' working and rest conditions are poor"

The Korea Expressway Corporation will conduct a comprehensive survey of the working conditions and environment of employees at highway rest areas across the country.

Korea Expressway Corporation President Yoo Jeong-hoon gave this response to concerns raised by Progressive Party lawmaker Yoon Jong-oh during a National Assembly audit by the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee on October 8. During the audit, Yoon highlighted the poor rest and working conditions of 8,684 employees at 215 highway rest areas nationwide. The corporation said it would assess the situation through a comprehensive survey and make necessary repairs, while incorporating measures to improve employees' working conditions, welfare and safety into its ongoing rest area reform plan.

Materials released by Yoon that day included photos of a rest area dormitory where ceiling panels had been removed and some rooms closed because of rainwater leaks, as well as a break room converted from a restroom where employees eat and rest. The materials also showed a shelter closed after its ceiling collapsed, a damaged hot water tank, and facilities where employees faced the risk of electric shock due to a leaking circulation motor.

A rest area for female cleaners at a highway rest stop. It was found to be a renovated former restroom. Provided by Rep. Yoon Jongo's office.

Interior of the dormitory at Jukam Rest Area, damaged by a water leak. Provided by Rep. Yoon Jong-oh's office.

Yoon pointed out that on-site workers were not guaranteed space to rest and said facility repairs had been left unaddressed for as long as about five years. He also criticized the rest area performance evaluation for failing to adequately reflect conditions on the ground.

"Reforming rest areas must go beyond lowering food prices and changing how they are operated. It must start with ensuring workers' lives, safety and right to rest," Yoon said. "I will monitor the comprehensive survey and whether the promised improvements are carried out, while also addressing structural problems such as direct employment, unpaid wages and the shifting of responsibility for facility investments when contracts expire."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.