Apology Following Anonymous Workplace Community Expos?
Controversy Grows Over Term "Victim Complainant"
Executives of the Kia labor union have been accused of abusing their power by forcibly involving female nutritionists from subcontractors in company dinners. After using the term ‘victim complainant’ to explain the allegations, which sparked further controversy, they finally acknowledged the accusations and apologized.
The Kia Hwaseong branch of the Metal Workers' Union stated in a newsletter on the 25th, “We deeply apologize for causing great disappointment to the catering company personnel and union members due to excessive language and behavior related to the restaurant business.”
Recently, on the anonymous workplace community ‘Blind,’ a claim was posted that ‘power harassment during company dinners’ occurred at Kia’s domestic factory in February.
The author, who identified themselves as belonging to the subcontractor ‘Hyundai Green Food,’ which operates the factory cafeteria, wrote, “Nutritionists were forcibly made to participate in the client company’s welfare and general affairs team dinners, and during the dinners, they were treated like hostesses with remarks such as ‘I only drink when a woman serves me.’ Speaking informally regardless of age was standard even upon first meeting.”
They added, “Although many wanted to post using the power of anonymity, everyone hesitated due to fear of retaliation from the client company. However, the degree of power harassment is worsening day by day.”
As the controversy escalated, the Kia Hwaseong branch of the Metal Workers' Union used the term ‘victim complainant’ targeting the author in a newsletter on the 18th to clarify the allegations. They said, “An anonymous post by a Hyundai Green Food employee about power harassment has been reported in the media. The union takes the media reports and the content of the post seriously and has verified the facts. We do not doubt or distort the sincerity of the victim complainant.”
The Hwaseong branch continued, “The first fact-check confirmed that there were no illegal acts such as bribery or entertainment,” and added, “Criticizing, slandering, and cursing the union based solely on speculation and conjecture is a dangerous act that damages the union and undermines solidarity.” Nevertheless, they said, “Regardless of all facts, we sincerely apologize to the victim complainant.”
The use of the term ‘victim complainant’ drew even stronger criticism. This term, which leaves room for doubt about whether the person is a victim, was heavily criticized as secondary victimization when Democratic Party lawmakers referred to victims as ‘victim complainants’ during the sexual harassment case involving former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon in 2020. Lawmakers who used the term subsequently stepped down from their election campaigns.
The Hwaseong branch later issued an official apology through a public notice, stating, “We caused great disappointment to Hyundai Green Food personnel and Hwaseong branch union comrades due to careless language and behavior during the restaurant-related business.”
On the 24th, Hwaseong branch chief Byun Sang-min personally visited Hyundai Green Food personnel to apologize and promised to prevent recurrence.
Through the newsletter, Chief Byun said, “As the branch chief, I feel a heavy responsibility and a deep sense of regret for not carefully overseeing the business methods and actions of the union’s executive committee members,” adding, “We will eliminate unnecessary customs and root out wrongful practices.”
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