20s Male Intern Assaulted with Shoes and Cigarette Pack
Victim Intern Files Police Complaint and Workplace Harassment Report
The head of the labor union branch at a public institution under Busan City is assaulting a 20-year-old intern with a shoe during a company dinner. [Photo by MBC]
Last month, a report was filed that the head of a labor union branch at a public institution under Busan City assaulted a 20-year-old intern employee during a drinking party, and CCTV footage capturing the assault was released.
Recently, the Busan Southern Police Station announced that they have booked and are investigating Mr. A, a man in his 40s and head of the labor union branch at the public institution, on charges of special assault. According to the police, Mr. A is accused of assaulting the head and neck of Mr. B, a 20-year-old intern employee, during a drinking party at a restaurant in Nam-gu, Busan, on the 10th of last month.
The video released by MBC shows Mr. A, who was having a drinking party at the restaurant, suddenly pointing to the floor and seemingly giving instructions to Mr. B, who was sitting opposite him. Soon after, Mr. A took off his shoes and repeatedly pushed Mr. B’s head, who was listening with his head bowed, with his shoe. According to Mr. B, Mr. A demanded that he put his head on the floor of the establishment during the drinking party. When Mr. B refused, Mr. A appeared to become enraged and assaulted him.
The head of the labor union branch at a public institution under Busan City is assaulting a 20-year-old intern with a shoe during a company dinner. [Video source=MBC news footage capture]
Mr. A’s assault continued outside the restaurant. After finishing the meal and stepping outside, Mr. A struck Mr. B’s hand and head with a cigarette case while sitting next to him. Mr. A continued the assault by hitting Mr. B’s head with his palm and said, “So what? Report me.”
In response, the victim Mr. B filed a complaint against the union branch head with the police on the 11th of the same month and reported the incident as ‘workplace harassment’ to his affiliated institution on the 20th. During the investigation, the union branch head reportedly stated that it was “intoxicated skinship among men,” implying it was a common behavior among men when drunk. The police, having recently completed the victim’s investigation, stated that they are also investigating Mr. A regarding the details of the incident.
Meanwhile, cases recognized as industrial accidents due to workplace harassment have increased ninefold over the past five years. According to data submitted by the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service and the Ministry of Employment and Labor to Rep. Lee Yong-woo of the Democratic Party on the 22nd of last month, the number of industrial accident recognitions due to workplace harassment rose annually from 20 cases in 2019 to 72 in 2020, 131 in 2021, 138 in 2022, and 185 in 2023, reaching 129 cases from January to August this year. There were also 29 cases of extreme choices due to unbearable harassment, including 16 recognized as industrial accidents.
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