President Lee vows maximum punishment over Gwangju firefighter's death

President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that if investigations confirm a female firefighter in Gwangju was forced to drink at work and that her family's request for a probe was suppressed, those responsible will face "the maximum possible punishment" — including disciplinary action, criminal charges, civil damages and indemnity claims.

Lee made the remarks in a post on X, formerly Twitter, saying, "It is truly deplorable that civil servants like this still exist."

An SBS report that Lee shared alongside his post said a woman in her 20s employed by the Gwangju Fire Department died by suicide last October. The fire department subsequently listed difficulties in her relationship with her boyfriend as the cause of death in an official document. Her fiancé, identified only as B, disputed that account, citing evidence that she had struggled with a culture of excessive drinking at work, and requested an internal investigation — but the request was rejected. It was only after the bereaved family visited the National Fire Agency five months later, accompanied by a firefighters' union, that an investigation was launched.

In response, Lee said the probe would cover not only the circumstances of the firefighter's death — including allegations of forced drinking at work gatherings — but also why the family's earlier request for an investigation was ignored. He added that the inquiry would be conducted by the Office for Government Policy Coordination rather than the National Fire Agency, to ensure objectivity.

Lee said he would ensure that "workplace gapjil — such as coercing people to drink at company dinners — and the concealment of misconduct can never even be imagined in this country again."

Lee said he had "directed the Cabinet to take action" and offered his condolences to the deceased and her family.

If you're thinking about self-harm or suicide, contact the Ministry of Health and Welfare's helpline 1393, available 24/7. Please request a translator for English-language services.