South Korea’s 69-hour workweek proposal sparks protests

[Blueprint]( Do you think working longer hours boosts productivity? South Korean government must have thought so. A recent plan to raise the limit on working hours to 69 stirred protests from Gen Z and millennial workers in the country, And now, the government says they will [reconsider the proposal]( that caused people to worry about their threatened work-life balance. It is weird to see governments have such plans while countries like Belgium give employees the opportunity to have four-day working weeks and observe positive results. Before diving deeper into it, let’s take a look at [this Rubik's cube]( that’s capable of solving itself in less than a minute. Good morning. I’m Mert, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s get started. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers heard about how AI could change the face of news forever. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+]( today to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. VIDEO OF THE DAY [rubik's cube]( [This Rubik's cube solves itself]( It takes less than a minute. MUST READ [South Korea walks back plans for 69-hour workweek after youth protest]( It seems every day everyone is working longer hours, putting strain on our work-life balance. A recent plan to raise the limit on [working hours to 69]( prompted protests from younger South Koreans who said the plan would destroy their work-life balance. The plan was introduced after business leaders complained that the existing limit of 52 hours a week was making it too difficult to meet output demands. Many countries, like the United States, have no limit on the hours an adult can work in one week, but there are rules around overtime pay for employees who work over 40 hours in one week. → South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol asked government agencies to reconsider the proposal after Gen Z and millennial workers, as well as union leaders, protested the proposal. Kim Eun-hye, Yoon's press secretary, said that the measure would be looked at and that the government would "communicate better with the public, especially with Generation Z and millennials." [Read More]( INNOVATION [MIT researchers create a novel low-cost and portable air pollution sensor]( As per an estimation by WHO, air pollution causes around four million annual premature deaths all over the globe. Considering this issue, an MIT research team launched an open-source version of an economical, mobile [pollution detector]( through which individuals can track the air-quality more broadly. The detector, named Flatburn, can be fabricated through 3D printing or by ordering cheap parts. The researchers have now conducted tests and calibrated the detector concerning existing ultra-modern machines and are making people aware of how to assemble, use, and interpret the data. [Read More]( TRANSPORTATION [World’s first completely electric skid-steer loader unveiled by Bobcat]( Bobcat has unveiled the first completely [electric skid-steer loader]( S7X. When Bobcat unveiled the Bobcat RogueX, a new concept track loader, it exceeded what the industry anticipated. This next-generation concept machine explores the capabilities of electric power, autonomous operation, and dual lift-arm geometry. “At Bobcat, we are always pushing the boundaries to explore the next leading advancements that help our customers accomplish more and propel the industry forward,” said Scott Park, Doosan Bobcat CEO and vice chairman. “As an organization, we are committed to innovating for our customers’ needs first and foremost so that they can become more efficient, more productive, and more successful.” [Read More]( CULTURE [$1 billion lawsuit against YouTube influencers who promoted FTX]( A [class-action lawsuit]( has named famous finance influencers on YouTube for their role in promoting cryptocurrency exchange FTX and sued them for $1 billion in damages. Founded by Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX was one of the most popular crypto exchanges in the world before it filed for bankruptcy in November last year. Social media influencers are people who promote products to their large number of followers, creating an impression that they themselves have used the product and trust it. However, it is common practice for influencers to promote products after receiving a fee from their promoters, which they may not necessarily disclose to their audience. [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS South Korean government’s 69-hour workweek plan is reversed after youth backlash. Do you think working more hours a day increases productivity? [No, it risks people’s health]( [Yes, it sure does]( [I have no clue]( [Maybe slightly]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we asked whether you believed ChatGPT will continue dominating the AI-bot domain. A majority (44 percent) said it would at least for a while. 44% It seems so, at least for a while 33% No, new ones will be launched soon 12% I’m not sure about it 12% Yes, it will, it’s the best QUOTE OF THE DAY The Universe is not obliged to conform to what we consider comfortable or plausible. Carl Sagan, American scientist and writer THINGS WE LOVE [Kobo Wall Shelf]( [Jaban Upholstered Armchair]( [Sawyer Wine Bar]( [LABODI Exercise Bike]( AND ANOTHER THING - Could more of the protein Menin [reverse aging]( New study revives youth. - OpenAI checked to see whether GPT-4 could [take over the world](. (Ars Technica) - Engineered cells touted to [treat the most aggressive cancers]( in the world. [premium] - [Resilient bug-sized robots]( keep flying even after wing damage. (ScienceDaily) - A novel membrane desalination approach may provide [potable water from seawater](. [premium] - A new combination therapy regimen shows [promising results for prostate cancer](. (MedicalXpress) - [Personalized nutrition via 3D printing]( can be a revolution in food technology. [premium] [IE+ SUBSCRIPTION PLANS]( [About Us]( [Advertise]( [Contact Us]( © Copyright 2023 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 205 Hudson St New York, NY, 10013, USA | All Rights Reserved You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage you e-mail preferences or unsubscribe [here.]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Interesting Engineering · 205 Hudson St. New York · NY, 10013, USA · New York, New York 10013 · USA