"Resigned and Raised Pigs and Horses" Female Union Leader Assaulted Employees with Shoes

Employees Sue "I Don't Remember Because I Was Drunk" Explanation
Victimized Employees Complain of Anxiety Disorder Diagnosed with 2 Weeks Recovery

A complaint alleging that executives and employees of a livestock cooperative in Jeonbuk were assaulted by the cooperative head has been filed, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

On the 20th, the Sunchang Police Station in Jeonbuk announced that they have booked a woman in her 60s, Ms. A, the head of a livestock cooperative in the province, on charges of assault without detention.

Ms. A is accused of verbally abusing the executives and employees by telling them to "resign" and physically assaulting them with shoes and other objects at a restaurant in Sunchang County, operated by the cooperative, around 11 p.m. on the 13th.

In the CCTV footage from the restaurant capturing the situation at the time, Mr. A is seen saying something to a male employee before suddenly taking off his shoes. He then hit the employee with his shoes and pushed him with his arm.
[Photo by Yonhap News TV]

According to the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the restaurant capturing the incident, Ms. A spoke to a male employee and suddenly took off her shoe. She then hit the employee with the shoe and pushed him with her arm.

Ms. A said, "You didn’t greet me when I came earlier. If you don’t resign, I won’t let it go, so write your resignation. And take good care of the cattle." She also swung her shoe at another male employee who tried to stop her.

The injured employees received medical diagnoses indicating injuries requiring two weeks of treatment and are suffering from anxiety disorders. One victim, Mr. B, expressed, "She came at 11 p.m. and started assaulting us because the lights weren’t turned on. Everything I had been living for collapsed in an instant, and I felt immense humiliation."

The affected employees received injury diagnoses requiring two weeks of rest and are complaining of anxiety disorders. Victim B said, "He came at 11 p.m. and started assaulting me just because I didn't turn on the light. I felt a tremendous sense of humiliation, thinking that everything I had lived through was collapsing in an instant."
[Photo by Yonhap News TV]

On the other hand, Ms. A claimed she does not clearly remember the incident. She said, "I had a drink, and I think I lost consciousness after that. I wish I could remember. I’m going crazy too. I wouldn’t say I did well, would I?"

The victims alleged that verbal abuse and physical assault by Ms. A have continued for five years since she was first elected in 2019 and re-elected this year.

Ultimately, the victims submitted their resignations the following day and filed a complaint against Ms. A with the police. It was reported that one of the victims was hospitalized due to mental shock and other issues.

A police official stated, "We recently summoned the complainants to confirm the contents of the complaint," adding, "We plan to further investigate the assault by reviewing the restaurant’s CCTV footage and other evidence."

The labor union of the livestock cooperative has also applied for a special labor inspection with the Ministry of Employment and Labor and requested an audit from the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation.