As Workplace Harassment Rises, More Workers Suffer from Trauma

Statistics from the Occupational Trauma Center
Over 3,000 Counseling Cases Related to Industrial Accidents

As incidents of workplace harassment have increased each year, the number of workers experiencing trauma has also continued to rise.

On August 3, Yonhap News reported, citing counseling statistics from the Occupational Trauma Center operated by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, that the number of counseling sessions for workers suffering from trauma over the past three years (2022-2024) totaled 16,607 cases.

(This photo is not directly related to the article.) Pixabay

The Occupational Trauma Center is a facility that provides free support to workers who have directly or indirectly experienced events such as major industrial accidents, the suicide of a colleague, workplace harassment, or workplace sexual harassment and sexual violence, helping them overcome trauma symptoms and return to normal daily life. The first center was established in Daegu in 2018, and currently, there are 23 centers operating nationwide.

Last year, there were 6,757 counseling cases, representing an increase of 56.4% compared to 4,320 cases in 2022, and a 22.2% increase compared to 5,530 cases in 2023.

The most frequently requested type of counseling was related to industrial accidents (major accidents), accounting for 3,214 cases, which was about half of all counseling sessions last year.

Counseling related to workplace harassment and sexual harassment followed, with 2,311 cases. This figure is double the 1,156 cases recorded in 2022.

Occupational Trauma Center Leaflet. Yonhap News

The number of workplace harassment cases reported to the Ministry of Employment and Labor has shown an increasing trend: 8,961 cases in 2022, 11,038 cases in 2023, and 12,253 cases in 2024.

Article 76-2 of the Labor Standards Act prohibits “acts that cause physical or psychological pain to workers or worsen the working environment by abusing a position of superiority or relationship to go beyond the proper scope of work.”

Meanwhile, on July 30, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that it will conduct a planned inspection of terrestrial broadcasters (KBS, SBS) and general programming channels (ChannelA, JTBC, TVChosun, MBN) by the end of this year.