Gangbuk-gu Forms 'Workplace Harassment Investigation Committee'... Investigation Begins

Including 5 External Experts Such as Lawyers and Labor Attorneys
District Mayor Lee Sun-hee: "We Will Investigate Accurately and Fairly"

View of Gangbuk District Office.

Gangbuk-gu, Seoul recently announced on the 28th that it has completed the formation of the ‘Gangbuk-gu Workplace Harassment Investigation Committee’ in relation to the recent employee death and has begun a fair and objective investigation.

The committee consists of five members, including the Gangbuk-gu Audit Officer, two lawyers, and two labor consultants as external experts. To ensure a fair and transparent investigation, the district requested the labor union (National Public Officials Labor Union Seoul Regional Headquarters Gangbuk-gu Branch) to recommend one external member, and three external members who previously participated in the ‘Workplace Harassment Counseling Advisory Committee’ were also appointed as committee members.

Earlier, a team leader in his 50s belonging to the Gangbuk-gu Public Health Center wrote a suicide note on the 1st mentioning health issues, work-related stress, and resentment toward his superior, and took his own life. The bereaved family reported workplace harassment to Gangbuk-gu on the 7th. In response, the district formed the ‘Workplace Harassment Counseling Advisory Committee’ and conducted an internal investigation. Subsequently, at the meeting of the ‘Workplace Harassment Counseling Advisory Committee’ held on the 13th, it was suggested that establishing a ‘Workplace Harassment Investigation Committee’ was necessary to verify specific facts and ensure the objectivity and transparency of the investigation.

The Workplace Harassment Investigation Committee is responsible for determining whether workplace harassment occurred in relation to the employee’s death, recommending appropriate measures such as disciplinary action against the perpetrator, and providing advice on other matters related to workplace harassment.

Gangbuk-gu stated, “We plan to investigate the incident promptly and fairly through the committee, and the labor union will also participate in the investigation to conduct a joint inquiry to ensure fairness and transparency.”

Lee Soon-hee, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, “We will conduct an accurate and fair investigation based on the facts through the committee and resolve the incident with a people-centered approach. We will also carry out thorough investigations and ensure that subsequent procedures proceed fairly and swiftly.”

※ If you have difficult feelings such as depression or know family or acquaintances experiencing such difficulties, you can receive counseling from experts 24 hours a day by calling the Suicide Prevention Counseling Hotline ☎109.