Lee Seung-jin, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker in the Gangwon Province Assembly representing Chuncheon District 4, urged fair and swift handling of a workplace harassment case and called for protection of the affected employee during an administrative audit of the Gangwon Research Institute on Friday.
At the audit, Lee examined how the institute had responded after an external investigation panel found workplace harassment had occurred and recommended heavy disciplinary action.
Lee also raised concerns that the manager under disciplinary review had been present in the audit chamber where the matter was being discussed, calling the arrangement inappropriate, and asked the institute's president to explain how it had come about.
The president said the manager had attended because no separate measures — such as suspension from duties — had been taken, leaving the individual in an active post.
The president also said the institute's personnel committee, at its first meeting on Aug. 27, had voted to impose a three-month pay cut, but had requested a review, judging the case warranted further deliberation. The first review session failed to proceed because members walked out before a quorum could be reached, and the president said another personnel committee meeting had since been requested.
Lee demanded that the institute submit the minutes of the personnel committee meeting documenting the walkout and report the progress of the review and its final outcome to the relevant committee. Lee also warned that a prolonged process would place a growing burden on the affected employee, and urged the institute to ensure a fair and prompt review while putting in place measures to allow the employee to return to work safely.
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