26-Year-Old’s Heartbreaking Final Texts Before Death From Overwork Spark Outrage In South Korea

The company has denied responsibility and refused to provide full records.
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Koreaboo

The death of a 26-year-old bakery employee has sparked massive shock in South Korea after details revealed his grueling work schedule and final messages before collapsing from suspected overwork.

The case has sparked anger and renewed debate about the country’s long-standing issue of extreme labor conditions.

london bagel museum
| Labor Today

Jeong Hyowon, who worked as a supervisor at the popular bakery chain London Bagel Museum, was found unresponsive in his company dormitory on July 16. He had reportedly been working close to 80 hours a week leading up to his death, with shifts often stretching over 13 hours a day. Despite being scheduled for rest days, he was repeatedly called back to work and even handled administrative tasks late into the night.

Messages he sent to his girlfriend shortly before his death have deeply moved the public. On the day before he passed, he wrote, “I couldn’t eat anything today,” before working until nearly midnight.

london bagel museum texts
| Labor Today

July 14, 2025

“I just got home. Gonna nap a bit.” (8:06 p.m.)

“I’m making the August schedule for the Incheon staff right now.” (11:55 p.m.)

“Everyone works so well. I chose them myself, haha.”

July 15, 2025

“I’m going to bed now. Focused hard for about an hour.” (1:17 a.m.)

“Heading to work now!” (8:58 a.m.)

“Sorry I couldn’t respond. I didn’t get to eat at all today. Still working…” (7:10 p.m.)

“Heading home now.” (11:54 p.m.)

“Sorry I couldn’t text. The store was so hectic I didn’t even realize I skipped dinner.” (11:55 p.m.)

July 16, 2025 (Day of Death)

“Just got home. Having chicken with coworkers at the dorm before bed.” (12:24 a.m.)

An autopsy found no preexisting medical conditions, and his family has applied for workplace injury compensation, claiming his death was caused by severe overwork. However, the company has denied responsibility and refused to provide full records of his working hours.

His parents described him as a hardworking and kind son who dreamed of one day opening his own café.

london bagel museum seoul
| TripAdvisor

The tragedy has reignited public outrage over exploitative working environments faced by young employees in South Korea, with many calling for stronger labor protections and accountability from companies.

As someone who’s worked 80-hour weeks myself, I can tell you — if that goes on long enough, you can literally feel your heart starting to act strange. I’ve even fallen asleep standing on the subway and nearly collapsed because my legs gave out. At least I managed to eat back then, but how is it possible that someone working at a bagel shop couldn’t even eat a single bagel? How does it make sense that a bakery doesn’t feed its own staff?

— Netizen via X (formerly Twitter)

Do we really think this problem is exclusive to this bakery…? In Korea, companies rarely hire enough people, so they end up dumping the work of two or three employees onto one person.

— Netizen via X (formerly Twitter)

They talked about having a ‘London aesthetic’ and even published a book about it. Turns out it was the same aesthetic as the Industrial Revolution, when workers were being drained dry.

— Netizen via X (formerly Twitter)

Source: LaborToday
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