"Resign If You Don't Marry, Write a Pledge"...Supervisor Forces Subordinates to Marry

First Trial Court Sentences to Suspended Prison Term
Psychiatric Treatment, Sick Leave, and Eventual Resignation

Exterior view of Suwon District Court. Suwon District Court

A workplace supervisor who made subordinates sign a written pledge to resign if they did not marry each other has been sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial.

According to the legal community on July 3, Judge Seol Ilyoung of the Criminal Division 19 of the Suwon District Court sentenced defendant A, who was indicted on charges of coercion, to six months in prison, suspended for two years.

The court stated, "Due to the defendant's actions, the subordinate was unable to settle into work life, underwent psychiatric treatment, took sick leave and a leave of absence, and ultimately gave up her job and resigned," adding, "It appears that the degree of psychological suffering the victim experienced in this process was significant."

The court further explained, "Choosing a romantic partner or spouse is an extremely personal decision within the realm of private life, and it is not something one could reasonably expect to be demanded by a workplace supervisor. The defendant mentioned 'resignation' or 'letter of resignation' at the time and demanded the written pledge. From the victim's perspective, such remarks by the defendant would have caused concern that refusing the demand could result in disadvantages in personnel matters, treatment, or approval of work-related matters."

In March 2021, A is accused of coercing a female subordinate, B (then 29 years old), and a male colleague, C, in the same department, to get married by saying, "Your yin and yang compatibility is good. Write a pledge stating that you will resign if you do not marry by the end of May. You cannot leave unless you write this." B and C, fearing possible disadvantages at work, eventually wrote the pledge.

Meanwhile, A denied the charges, stating that although he did say the words as described in the indictment, he did not notify of any harm and did not have the intent to coerce.