Author: “The reality is that the manuscript fee has not increased for 20 years” [이슈 속으로]
Article entered 2023-10-08 21:00:00
Article modified 2023-10-08 19:31:33
Artist Yoo Eun-hye pushes for the establishment of a labor union
The reality is that it is structurally difficult to get the right price.
While the author points out social contradictions,
You can’t speak out about your own working conditions.
“Over the past 20 years, the cost of living, including food and transportation costs, has risen a lot, but why have writers’ manuscript fees barely increased? “How long will writers have to work at a price that does not reflect the inflation rate and does not properly reflect their career, seniority, and job experience?”
On the 20th of last month, writer Eoo Yoo (52, photo) responded to a reporter’s question about the reason and background for the establishment of a writer’s union and said, “I was skeptical about the reality that even if someone speaks out, it is not properly reflected.” The following is a Q&A with author Eun.
―What is the awareness or motivation behind the push for a writer’s union?
“I just received a request for a manuscript from a magazine company, but I declined it. They said that the manuscript fee for writing 15 pages of manuscript paper is 200,000 won. I have been writing as a freelancer since 2005, and my manuscript fees have not increased at all. At that time, 15 sheets of manuscript paper cost about 200,000 won, and it is the same now. Structurally, it is difficult to get the right price. Even if someone speaks out, it is not reflected well. There was always skepticism about this reality. “I always had an awareness of the problem of creating a writer’s union quickly, but I couldn’t do it because I was busy living from day to day.”
―What is the atmosphere and reaction at the scene?
“Some friends contact me, and some share my posts on Facebook. I think everyone was feeling this problem, thinking, “Isn’t this the case?” It seems like they are grateful that someone steps up in a situation where self-alienation occurs. I think it’s very ironic that writers are people who write about social structures and contradictions, but they can’t actually speak out about their own working conditions. Since the artists were scattered and worked individually, there was no opportunity to meet them. Also, I think there were many writers who were suffering internally because they couldn’t speak up even if they wanted to, for fear of being disadvantaged.”
-What are the specific qualifications for union membership?
“There is a debate about how to define a writer. “I think legal and specific matters, such as qualification requirements and membership fees, will be decided through detailed internal discussions.”
―Future outlook, direction, and major schedules.
“Last March, several people who were aware of the problem opened a group chat room and started talking. So far, we’ve asked everyone who is interested to gather and said hello. Last September, writers from each field gathered for the first time and held a meeting. (We are recruiting participants for the writers’ union preparatory committee.) I think we will move forward one step at a time after discussing what the next step should be. “I’m going to try as hard as I can.”
