Gimpo Public Official Who Died After Harassment by Complainants... Complainants Summarily Prosecuted with Fines

Grade 9 Public Official in Gimpo-si Dies in March Last Year
Complaints Surge After Traffic Jam Caused by Pothole Repairs
Controversy Over "Coordinate Marking" After Real Name and Department Disclosed

Two complainants who wrote multiple defamatory posts about a public official and made protest calls to the duty office were summarily prosecuted in connection with the death last year of a public official in Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi Province, who had been suffering from malicious complaints. Summary prosecution means that the prosecution requests the court to issue a summary order imposing a fine without a separate trial procedure.

The Korea Public Officials Labor Union Federation (Gongnochoeng) is holding a rally to urge the eradication of malicious civil complaints and the establishment of countermeasures. Photo by Gongnochoeng

On the 20th, the Bucheon branch of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office summarily prosecuted a woman in her 30s, A, for defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, and a man in his 40s, B, for attempted intimidation, both with fines. The prosecution decided to proceed with summary prosecution after deliberation by the 'Prosecutors' Citizen Committee' composed of citizens, considering fairness with general cases, and it is known that the specific amount of the fine was not disclosed.

A is accused of posting defamatory articles targeting C, a Grade 9 public official of Gimpo-si, five times over 15 minutes starting at 10:30 p.m. on February 29 last year on an internet cafe. B is accused of making two calls to the Gimpo-si duty office at 12:15 a.m. and 9:28 a.m. on March 1 last year, strongly protesting by notifying harm that could cause fear to C. However, B's intimidation did not reach C and thus remained an attempt.

A memorial message for a public official who died last April after suffering from malicious complaints is displayed at the Gimpo City Hall. Provided by Gimpo City

C was found dead in a vehicle parked on a road in Seo-gu, Incheon, on March 5 last year. It is known that five days before his death, on February 29, C suffered from a "complaint bomb" caused by traffic congestion due to pothole repair work on a road in Gimpo-si. At that time, a citizen posted on a local online cafe, "I want to grab the collar of this person who should be resting at home," identifying the official C who approved the construction, and disclosed his real name, department, and direct phone number. Subsequently, in the comments of the post, collective complaints were sent to Gimpo-si and C through so-called "coordinate marking," including complaint calls and repeated postings.

However, it is known that C stayed at the construction site until 1 a.m. that night. In December last year, the Ministry of Personnel Management held a Public Officials' Disaster Compensation Review Committee and recognized C's death as a work-related death. Although the specific reasons for recognizing the work-related death were not disclosed, it is understood that a causal relationship between C's work and death was determined. Accordingly, C's bereaved family became eligible to receive survivor benefits. At that time, Gimpo-si stated, "Following the decision to recognize the work-related death, we are also proceeding with a special promotion process for C," and added, "We will do our best to restore the honor of the deceased."