LH Executive Abuses Rental Housing Representative: "You Can't Study, You Can't Buy, That's Why You Do That XX" Verbal Abuse

LH logo signboard [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] A senior official of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) has sparked controversy after receiving only a 'one-month salary reduction' disciplinary action for verbally abusing the representative of a national rental housing complex with remarks such as "You always seem like a fool who can't study" and "It's pathetic that you're poor."

According to a News1 report on the 8th, LH applied 'Article 48, Paragraph 1 of the Personnel Regulations' to Director A of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Regional Headquarters for damaging the dignity of the corporation's employees and tarnishing the honor and reputation of the corporation and its staff, resulting in a 'one-month salary reduction' penalty.

On July 8 last year, Director A, during a meal with Mr. Lee, the representative of a national rental apartment in Daegu, continued with severe insults and academic disparagement such as "You always seem like a fool who can't study," "It's pathetic that you're poor," "Hey, you son of a XXX. Which university did you graduate from? You didn't even graduate from XXX University, did you?" and "How much tax do you pay? XXX."

When Mr. Lee, angered by this, confronted Director A, he retorted with abusive language, saying, "Your attitude is messed up, you XXX. You are XXX. How much do you think you contribute to my salary? XXX. You XXX. Living in national rental housing, and yet you talk like that to the owner."

It is reported that the victim, Mr. Lee, is seven years older than Director A. The verbal abuse lasted for two hours and only ended after the police arrived.

LH's disciplinary actions are categorized as △reprimand △salary reduction △suspension △demotion △dismissal and discharge, and Director A received a relatively light punishment of 'one-month salary reduction.' According to the relevant regulations, a salary reduction of up to three months could have been imposed, but only one month was applied.

LH stated that they imposed this disciplinary action because Director A expressed remorse, including apologies to the residents of the rental housing and the corporation's employees for his misconduct.