Suspect in Gwangju firefighter's workplace bullying death had prior gapjil complaint, union says

The employee accused of driving a Gwangju firefighter to take her own life through workplace harassment had previously been reported for gapjil — abusive conduct by a superior — a union has alleged, deepening the fallout from the case. The controversy grew further after fire authorities transferred the accused employee to a coveted post at headquarters even as the victim's family was demanding a formal investigation.

According to the Fire Department Workers' Union under the Federation of Korean Government Employees' Unions, the civil servant identified as "A," who is suspected of repeatedly harassing the victim, was reported last year through "Red Whistle," an internal anonymous tip system, on charges of gapjil.

Red Whistle is an internal audit system that receives confidential reports of misconduct by civil servants, including gapjil and sexual impropriety. KakaoTalk messages the union and the victim's family obtained from the deceased also support the claim — the messages show that A "was distressed over being reported to Red Whistle."

The union and the family have focused their criticism on what fire authorities did after the victim's death. Despite the family formally requesting an investigation, authorities transferred A — who faces allegations of responsibility for the death — to a key post at the Gwangju Fire Headquarters in less than a month.

A had been reported through Red Whistle while stationed at Gwangsan Fire Station and was moved to a field position in July last year, before being transferred to the Gwangju Fire Headquarters' 119 Special Response Unit in January. A union official strongly criticized the move, saying headquarters assignments carry far greater promotion benefits than frontline stations and amount to "an obvious plum post — effectively a promotion." The official added that reassigning an employee suspected of driving a colleague to her death to such a position, while the family was still in mourning, "is simply incomprehensible."

The Gwangju Fire Headquarters said the transfer was a routine personnel move unrelated to the workplace harassment allegations. A headquarters official said fire department civil servants are rotated to new posts every three years barring special circumstances, and that the timing coinciding with the controversy was "simply a coincidence." On whether A had previously been reported through Red Whistle, the official said personal information made it difficult to confirm, but added that all relevant materials had been submitted to the Office for Government Policy Coordination inspection team, which is currently conducting a probe.

Labor groups called for a compulsory criminal investigation, saying an internal administrative audit is not enough. The Fire Department chapter of the Korean Government Employees' Union issued a statement saying the Office for Government Policy Coordination's audit "has clear limitations as an administrative and internal inquiry," and urged "a transparent and objective investigation by an external public body with judicial investigative authority." The union also filed a petition with Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station, formally urging a rigorous investigation.

The victim, who was assigned to Gwangsan Fire Station, died by suicide on Oct. 3 last year after reportedly suffering from excessive mandatory drinking sessions, coercive workplace culture and other forms of harassment. After media reports alleged that fire authorities had initially suppressed the family's calls for a full inquiry, President Lee Jae-myung ordered the Office for Government Policy Coordination to conduct a thorough investigation, which is now underway.

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.