A Woman in Her 50s Who Took Her Own Life Two Weeks After Her Eldest Daughter's Wedding... KT Requests Truth Investigation from the Ministry of Employment and Labor

Bereaved Family Files Blue House National Petition on "Workplace Bullying"

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] It was recently revealed that the workplace of a man in his 50s, who became the subject of controversy over “workplace harassment” after his eldest daughter’s marriage and his subsequent suicide two weeks later, is KT.

The employee, who worked at KT Dongbusan Branch, made an extreme choice ahead of the Chuseok holiday.

The bereaved family is demanding an apology from KT headquarters through the Blue House’s national petition board, stating that “the deceased chose suicide after being unable to endure workplace harassment.”

According to KT headquarters and the KT Saenodo (KT New Union), on the 15th, a man in his 50s, employee A, who worked at KT Dongbusan Branch, took his own life.

After finishing his 30-year service sabbatical leave, A told his wife on the 13th, “I’m going to the bank,” and left home.

After a message that he could not return home due to handling a complaint, he went missing for two days.

On the 15th, the family reported him missing to the police, and shortly after, they were informed of A’s death. He was found having made an extreme choice at a motel in Gimhae City, Gyeongnam Province.

A’s eldest daughter had only been married for two weeks.

A’s wife claimed, “My husband found it difficult to settle in the organization due to frequent demotions and transfers. The only person he confided in, his team leader, was transferred to another department in June, leaving him isolated and ostracized in the team.”

A worked at the Gimhae branch for 25 years before being involuntarily transferred to the Busan branch. Three years ago, he was sent to the Cheonan branch, and according to the bereaved family, he returned to Busan again in January of this year.

Regarding A’s death, KT’s second union, KT Saenodo, claimed that in addition to workplace harassment, the shock from restructuring likely pressured the deceased.

The new union urged a thorough investigation through a joint inquiry involving both labor and management.

KT is known to have requested an investigation from the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 17th and is awaiting the results.

KT stated, “Until A’s death, he never applied for counseling or expressed any grievances.”

KT added, “The investigation will be conducted soon by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The rumor that A was included in restructuring is not true; only an agreement regarding work adjustments was made between labor and management.”