Asiana flight attendants fight dress code

The union representing flight attendants for South Korea's Asiana Airlines says it is fighting a dress code that forbids women from wearing pants or eyeglasses. The union, affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, is urging Asiana Airlines to ease the dress code, which is even stricter than the one for flight attendants at Korean Air, The Korea Times reported. Female Asiana flight attendants must keep their fingernails short and painted specific colors, and are strongly encouraged to wrap their hair in a small-sized hairnet. The union held a news conference Thursday in front of Asiana's Seoul headquarter in commemoration of International Women's Day, arguing the airline's rules infringe on basic human rights. The airline said the dress code represents corporate brand and identity. "These internal rules are not compulsory but are strongly recommended to be kept by all flight crews," an Asiana Airlines spokesman said. "We are in a highly competitive service industry. The way our flight attendants dress and look significantly influences our business." Kwon Soo-jung, the head of Asiana Airlines' flight union, said the company is trying to boost profits by commercializing women's bodies. "The guidelines do not help us serve customers and ensure flight safety. They are outdated and overly strict, suppressing female flight attendants' rights to individuality and freedom of expression."