Gwangju Namgu Union Condemns City Personnel Committee for Exonerating Abusive Official

Exterior view of Gwangju Namgu District Office.

The labor union of public officials at the Gwangju Namgu District Office has condemned the Gwangju City Personnel Committee for what it called a "slap on the wrist" punishment against a senior official accused of habitual workplace abuse toward colleagues in the same department.

On June 17, the Namgu Branch of the Gwangju Regional Headquarters of the Korean Government Employees' Union issued a statement, saying, "Regarding the recent case of workplace abuse by a senior official in Namgu, the Gwangju City Personnel Committee imposed a 'non-disciplinary warning,' which is even lighter than a slap on the wrist." "We feel not only devastated but also angry at this decision, which amounts to killing the victim twice," the statement read.

The union criticized, "The Personnel Committee's decision, which thoroughly ignored the victim's suffering and sided with the perpetrator, will be remembered as a deeply shameful act that denies common sense and turns its back on justice. The committee, which should correct misconduct in public office, has abandoned its role and, by openly exempting clear abuse from accountability, has paved the way for rationalizing workplace abuse in the public sector."

The statement continued, "The Personnel Committee, which is supposed to correct misconduct in the public service, has abandoned its role. If the committee members had exercised even a minimum of conscience and made their judgment based on common sense and rationality, such a decision would not have been possible."

The union also claimed, "Namgu District Mayor Kim Byungnae cannot avoid responsibility, as he provided grounds for the Personnel Committee to make the wrong decision. The district mayor overturned the original decision of the Citizens' Grievance Committee, which had determined the case to be workplace abuse, and lowered the level of disciplinary action by requesting a review."

Furthermore, the union emphasized, "This disaster resulted from the district mayor's lack of will to eradicate workplace abuse and the Personnel Committee members' lack of awareness of human rights. The Personnel Committee's decision to side with the perpetrator will be recorded as a shameful chapter in history."

The Gwangju City Personnel Committee recently issued a "non-disciplinary warning" to the head of A-dong at Namgu District Office, who had been accused of workplace abuse against female employees. A non-disciplinary warning entails personnel disadvantages, such as restrictions on awards, but it is not a disciplinary action as defined by law.

The head of A-dong was referred to the disciplinary committee after being accused of treating four female employees inhumanely while serving as a department head in Namgu from July to December last year.