A court has ruled that an automaker's decision to dismiss a factory worker who appeared to attempt self-harm with a knife in front of colleagues was justified. The ruling reflects the view that, in automobile manufacturing settings where many workers operate together, trust and collaborative order among employees are critical, and such conduct seriously undermined corporate discipline.
According to legal sources Wednesday, the 41st Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Lee Kyu-hoon, on Dec. 21 ruled against the plaintiff in a wrongful termination suit filed by a worker identified as A against Hyundai Motor (005380.KS).
A, who was responsible for assembly work at Hyundai Motor's B plant, had an argument with colleagues over the division of duties on Aug. 5, 2024. Feeling that he had been disrespected, A purchased two knives three days later, placed them in a bag and reported to the factory. He then took the knives out on a workbench and engaged in behavior that appeared to be an attempt at self-harm in front of his colleagues.
After verifying the facts, Hyundai Motor convened a disciplinary committee and dismissed A on grounds of "disrupting workplace order." A requested a reconsideration from the company, but when the outcome remained unchanged, he filed a lawsuit. In court, he argued that "there was no intent to attack or intimidate colleagues; it was solely for the purpose of self-harm."
The court, however, did not accept A's arguments. "For intimidation to be established, there does not necessarily have to be intent to attack another person," the bench said. "A's conduct can be regarded as having communicated a level of harm sufficient to instill fear in his colleagues."
A also argued that the company had abused its disciplinary authority, citing that the self-harm behavior lasted only about a minute and that his coworkers had petitioned for leniency. But the court emphasized that cooperation and trust among employees are essential given the nature of the automobile manufacturing industry. "A's conduct was an extreme manifestation of a workplace conflict and had a negative impact on workplace discipline," the bench explained.
The court also cited the social climate at the time, in which heightened anxiety had been caused by a series of stabbing incidents, as grounds for finding the disciplinary action justified.
