Workplace Bullying Confirmed in Researcher's Death, But Perpetrators Face Only Internal Discipline

A young employee at the Korea Institute of Local Finance (KILF) took his own life in September after enduring habitual workplace bullying for two years since joining the institute, authorities revealed. The perpetrators, however, will only face internal disciplinary action or transfers at the institute's discretion under current law.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced Wednesday that a special labor inspection of KILF confirmed multiple instances of workplace bullying as claimed by the deceased and his bereaved family. The victim had been denied approval for annual leave and was subjected to insulting remarks and verbal abuse at work. He was forced by a superior to write a handwritten letter of apology.

While gathering evidence to prove the bullying, the deceased discovered circumstances suggesting manipulation of research evaluations for research fellows at the institute. The bereaved family has claimed that employees bullied the victim to prevent this information from becoming public.

The ministry imposed a fine of 5 million won on KILF under workplace bullying penalty provisions in the Labor Standards Act. It also notified the institute that disciplinary action or transfers must be taken against five employees directly responsible for the bullying. KILF faces additional fines if it fails to comply with these measures. However, the level of discipline is left to the institute's discretion. The institute had previously issued a three-month suspension to a superior who bullied the deceased in March last year. The institute's president resigned after the special inspection concluded.

"Under current laws and regulations, the ministry cannot force the institute to impose specific punishments," a ministry official said. "During the inspection, we did not hear that the perpetrators had visited the bereaved family to apologize."

The inspection team from the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office met with the deceased's family to explain the inspection results in detail and offer condolences.

The institute was found to be in a state of collapsed basic labor order. Despite being a government-funded research institution, wage arrears totaling 174 million won were uncovered. Eight violations of labor laws were identified, including unpaid wages. The ministry pursued criminal charges in four cases and imposed fines totaling 25 million won in three others.

According to the office of Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Yong-woo, 22 workplace bullying complaints were filed by the deceased and other employees last year alone. Of 86 employees hired between 2022 and this year, 47 have left the institute, with 33 resigning voluntarily.

"Workplaces where people go to make a living should never become a source of suffering for anyone," Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon said.