Do higher skills result in better jobs? The case of the Korean animation industry

Abstract

Jobs in creative industries are often believed to be imaginative, with a high degree of autonomy and opportunity for self-expression. This paper examines the case of the South Korean animation industry to explain how the changes in an industry affect the characteristics of labor and the work environment. The data for this study was obtained through a survey of 407 South Korean animators and in-depth interviews with 16 individuals. Despite recent success, animation is not thriving compared to other creative industries. Moreover, the high dependence on auxiliary markets and the dominant power of large media companies over small- and medium-sized animation companies results in insecure employment and a less desirable work environment. The animation industry functions on the same old capitalist premise: lowering production costs through hiring fewer regular workers and more irregular workers.