Ryu Ho-jeong 'Unfair Dismissal' Controversy... Opposition: "Only Learned Bad Behavior... Resign"

Ryu Ho-jeong Responds to 'Unfair Dismissal of Secretary' Claim: "Dismissed Due to Work-Related Differences in Disposition"

Ryu Ho-jeong, Justice Party member./Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Amid controversy over allegations that Ryu Hojung, a Justice Party lawmaker, unfairly dismissed her secretary, the People Power Party called on April 31 to urge Ryu to resign from her parliamentary position.

Park Ginyeong, deputy spokesperson for the People Power Party, issued a statement that day, emphasizing to Ryu, "Since you unfairly dismissed someone with your own hands, you have lost the justification to work in the National Assembly. It is only right that you sincerely repent and step down voluntarily."

Park pointed out, "Although Ryu offered an explanation, the dismissed executive secretary clearly stated in a public setting that Ryu was the perpetrator, making it difficult to see this issue as resolved."

He added, "From the beginning, did Ryu start her parliamentary career by disguising a recommended resignation?a method where the employer and employee agree to end the contract?as an unfair dismissal and posing as a dismissed worker? Throughout her time in the National Assembly, she focused only on showy performances, and now she is being called an unfair dismissal perpetrator." Earlier, Ryu entered the National Assembly as the Justice Party's first proportional representative in the April 15 general election, with a background in labor activism.

Park further stated, "There is doubt about how much actual labor experience Ryu, who is in her twenties, has had, and the public's concern about whether she can truly represent workers' hardships has become a reality," adding, "'Because she does not understand what the 'real hardships' of 'real workers' are, did she not dismiss her secretary unfairly citing 'differences in disposition'?"

He continued, "Shortly after her parliamentary term began, in an interview, Ryu said she did not use her secretary's car because her commute was too early. The secretary's statement that she was dismissed because no one came to pick her up by 7 a.m. after working past midnight proves that Ryu's words were lies," raising his voice.

He also criticized, "After party members protested, Ryu withdrew the dismissal notice to the secretary and instructed her to work from home, raising controversy over whether this was 'workplace ostracism.' It makes one think that after entering the National Assembly, Ryu only learned the 'bad behaviors' of some 'power-abusing companies.'"

Finally, Park emphasized, "Ryu should reflect on whether she is deceiving even herself and living a life of lies. Having become a lawmaker on the grounds of being an unfairly dismissed worker, Ryu has lost the justification to work in the National Assembly because she unfairly dismissed someone with her own hands. It is only right that she sincerely repents and steps down voluntarily."

Ryu Ho-jeong, Justice Party member. [Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier, a Justice Party member claimed on Facebook on March 29 that "Ryu violated labor laws by notifying the dismissal of her former secretary only seven days in advance, without observing the usual notice period." The member also said that when some party members raised objections to the dismissal, the dismissal notice was withdrawn and the secretary was instructed to work from home, effectively amounting to 'ostracism.'

In response to the controversy, Ryu issued a statement that day, saying, "The Grade 7 secretary responsible for executive duties in my office was dismissed in mid-December last year."

She explained, "The reason for dismissal was 'differences in work disposition.' Due to the nature of the executive secretary's duties, working hours were not strictly fixed. However, we tried to guarantee rest time as much as possible, such as working four days a week during weeks without schedules."

She added, "After procedural mistakes, there was a process of reaching an agreement and misunderstandings were cleared, but it was difficult to continue working together. I am sorry for not being able to work together until the end."

Meanwhile, born in 1992 and the youngest member of the 21st National Assembly, Ryu attempted to form a labor union at a game company where she worked after graduating from university but was recommended to resign. She then became active in the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.