Korea Jobworld chief gets 1-month suspension despite confirmed workplace harassment, misconduct

The chairman of Korea Jobworld has been handed a one-month suspension after workplace harassment and a series of other misconduct were confirmed against him — a punishment the institution's labor union condemned Friday as a "whitewash" that effectively shields his remaining tenure.

According to the Korea Jobworld labor union, the institution's board of directors deliberated on disciplinary action against Chairman Lee Byung-kyun on May 29 and voted to impose the one-month suspension. The board officially communicated the decision to the institution on Wednesday, with the suspension running for one month from Thursday.

Earlier, the Seongnam branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor recognized five counts of workplace harassment by Lee — including interference with an employee's paternity leave and the destruction of official reports — and issued a corrective order. A separate special audit by the ministry's inspector general confirmed multiple instances of misconduct, including improper use of operational funds, attempts to solicit personnel favors, and interference in staff performance evaluations.

The disciplinary action came after employees' allegations of workplace harassment and misconduct were substantiated through the ministry's investigation and audit. The union had been pressing the board for accountability through press conferences and one-person protests.

The process was not without controversy. At a board meeting scheduled for May 8, Lee notified the board on the day itself that he would not attend, causing the disciplinary vote to collapse. As delays mounted, criticism grew — particularly after the deadline for complying with the ministry's corrective order passed without action, drawing attention to the anomaly of a ministry-affiliated institution failing to carry out a direct administrative order from its supervising ministry.

The union said the punishment was far too lenient given the severity of the misconduct. With Lee's term set to expire in July, union members said they could not shake the suspicion that the board had effectively struck a compromise to let him serve out his remaining time in office.

The union also questioned the fairness of the disciplinary process, saying employees at other ministry-affiliated institutions had learned of the one-month suspension before it was officially announced. It also said there were indications that Lee himself had known in advance and had begun adjusting his work schedule accordingly.

The union raised further concerns about what happens after the suspension ends. Under Korea Jobworld's bylaws, the incumbent chairman may continue to perform duties beyond the expiration of his term if no successor has been appointed — meaning a chairman found guilty of serious misconduct could remain in his post indefinitely. The union also warned of potential retaliation or secondary harm against employees who raised the original complaints once Lee returns to active duty.

"We express deep regret that, despite the Ministry of Employment and Labor's recognition of workplace harassment and the confirmation of serious misconduct through the audit, the outcome was ultimately a one-month suspension," said Lee Ji-eun, chairperson of the Korea Jobworld labor union. "We cannot shake the suspicion that the board and the ministry ultimately compromised at a level that preserves the chairman's tenure." She added that the next chairman should be someone with sensitivity to human rights and a commitment to integrity, as well as the expertise and vision to advance the institution's core mission of career and vocational education.