"Today Is Yeoldudaeya"... Work-Related Injury Recognized for 25-Year-Old Youth Who Died from Workplace Harassment

Harassed by Workplace Boss, Died in May Last Year
Bereaved Family Discovers Call Recordings on Deceased's Phone
Perpetrator Sentenced to 2 Years and 6 Months for Verbal Abuse and Assault

The death of a 25-year-old young man who ultimately took his own life after suffering severe 'workplace harassment' from his superior at his first job has been recognized as a work-related injury.

On the 22nd, Yonhap News reported that the death of the late Jeon Young-jin, who passed away in May last year, was ruled an industrial accident by the Seoul Northern Office Work-related Disease Judgment Committee of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service on the 9th. The committee determined that Jeon's death was caused by mental stress resulting from workplace harassment that exceeded an appropriate range and caused physical and psychological suffering.

The late Jeon Young-jin during his lifetime [Photo by Jeon family, Yonhap News]

In particular, this ruling was influenced by the criminal case against Jeon's harassing superior, Mr. A (41), where both the first and second trial courts judged that "Mr. A's actions significantly contributed to Jeon's death."

Jeon was employed in August 2021 at a car parts company in Sokcho-si, Gangwon Province, which had fewer than five employees. There, he endured severe harassment from his superior Mr. A, who had about 20 years of experience, and ultimately ended his life on May 23 last year.

Jeon's older brother, suspicious of his sibling's sudden death without a suicide note, checked Jeon's cellphone. The phone contained recordings that clearly revealed the reasons why Jeon felt he had no choice but to end his life.

Mr. A verbally abused and threatened Jeon with phrases such as "I'll kill you," "You have no sense," and "I'll hit you twelve times." Five days before Jeon's death, Mr. A verbally abused him harshly while mentioning Jeon's parents, and four days before, he cursed at him again, saying "I'll kill you."

Eventually, Mr. A was prosecuted for repeatedly verbally abusing Jeon 86 times over the phone between March and May last year, causing fear and anxiety, threatening him 16 times, and physically assaulting him four times, including hitting his head with a fist. He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison in both the first and second trials.

Meanwhile, Jeon and his bereaved family also filed a civil lawsuit for damages against Mr. A and the company representative. However, the company representative has denied responsibility, stating, "This incident occurred between Mr. A and the deceased," and "The company was unaware of it." Jeon's older brother, Young-ho, told Yonhap News, "My brother was driven to the edge by continuous harassment and threats and died, yet they still try to blame him as if nothing wrong was done," adding, "I hope they recognize that this was caused by wrongful behavior, and that my brother's case becomes a precedent leading to stronger laws." He also urged, "If anyone is experiencing similar situations, do not hesitate to inform those around you and take legal action."