Governor Lee Cheolwoo of Gyeongbuk Province: "Workplace Harassment Is the Most Dangerous Issue, Senior Officials Must Lead by Example"

Workplace Harassment Prevention Training
Attended by 150 Senior Officials and Staff

On May 23, Gyeongbuk Province held the "2025 Human Rights and Workplace Harassment Prevention Training" at the provincial government’s multipurpose hall, with approximately 150 participants including Governor Lee Cheolwoo, Park Soyoung, Chairperson of the Public Officials Labor Union, and senior government officials.

Gyeongbuk Province has designated the previously annual "Workplace Harassment Prevention Training" as mandatory education for all senior officials starting this year.

Lee Cheolwoo Governor of Gyeongbuk

This training was conducted for senior officials, including the governor, vice governor, directors, and department heads. It featured a special lecture focused on the value of respecting human rights, as well as an integrated experiential program combining theater and drama therapy.

Additionally, side events such as a sticker photo booth and an exhibition of four-panel comics on workplace harassment prevention were held in the lobby on the first floor of the provincial government building, drawing significant interest and positive responses from staff.

The day's training was led by Kim Haeyong, a role-playing therapy expert and CEO of Mind Moving Consulting, who gave a lecture on "Stories of Respect and Harassment Prevention Learned Through Drama Therapy."

Participants engaged in role-playing based on real conflict cases within organizations, explored effective communication and response strategies, and discussed ways to foster intergenerational empathy and improve organizational culture.

Governor Lee Cheolwoo of Gyeongbuk Province stated, "Workplace harassment, often referred to as 'gapjil,' along with human rights issues, is the most dangerous factor that hinders not only individuals but also the entire organization and the development of provincial administration. Gyeongbuk Province will take the lead starting with senior officials, and all employees will work together to create a healthy organizational culture free from harassment."

Meanwhile, starting with this session, Gyeongbuk Province plans to conduct a total of seven additional training sessions in stages until the second half of 2025. In particular, the "Workplace Harassment Case Play" will vividly address issues of gapjil and euljil arising from generational and positional differences in perception within the organization.

Centered around the message that everyone can be both a 'gap' (superior) and an 'eul' (subordinate), the training is expected to naturally convey the need for communication and reconciliation between generations, fostering deep empathy and a shift in awareness.