Deceased Nonghyup Employee Endured Insults and Mockery for Over a Year
Bereaved Family Says "Every Move, Even Going to the Bathroom, Was Monitored"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] A tragic incident occurred involving Mr. A (33), a newlywed husband of three months who worked at the Jangsu Nonghyup in Jeonbuk, who took his own life. The bereaved family stated that since Center Director Mr. B took office in January last year, Mr. A had been subjected to continuous harassment.
According to the family, Mr. A, who joined Nonghyup in 2019, had good relationships with his colleagues and led an ordinary work life before Mr. B’s appointment. However, everything changed after Mr. B took office. Mr. B humiliated Mr. A in front of colleagues with insulting remarks and forced him to run unreasonable errands, among other forms of harassment.
Mr. A’s younger brother, Lee Jin, shared details of the harassment written in Mr. A’s suicide note during an interview on CBS Radio’s "Jeongdaun’s News Talk 530" on the 26th. Lee said, “Insults and mockery were just the basics, and to establish a strict hierarchy, there was also bullying such as suppressing him. There were even signs of extortion.”
He explained, “(Mr. A) had chronic colon and anal diseases, but his personal movements were tracked via CCTV, and every single action, including the number of times he went to the restroom, was monitored. He had no privacy at all. It was an act of degrading his dignity.” Lee also revealed that Mr. A was once ordered by Mr. B and others to buy king crab, and he took a taxi from Jangsu to Noryangjin in Seoul at his own expense to fulfill the order.
Two weeks before his wedding, on September 27 last year, Mr. A attempted suicide but was rescued just in time and survived. Subsequently, Nonghyup began an investigation into workplace harassment, but the perpetrators were found ‘not guilty.’ Ultimately, Mr. A took his own life on the 12th, leaving his car parked in front of the Nonghyup materials warehouse where he worked.
The bereaved family raised suspicions about the investigation process, noting that the labor attorney who conducted the workplace harassment investigation and Mr. B were acquaintances. Lee said, “Even though all the facts about the harassment were fully testified to the labor attorney, the conclusion was ‘no charges.’ The labor attorney admitted that he was acquainted with the perpetrator.”
He added, “As a working person myself, I believe many people suffer from workplace harassment. However, many, like my brother, endure pain because their cases are not practically recognized. Through this opportunity, I want the workplace harassment law to be firmly revised so that everyone can work in an environment free from harm.”
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