[2021 National Audit] "Naver Practically Neglects Workplace Harassment... Only 1 Disciplinary Action Out of 18 Cases"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Naver is being criticized for effectively neglecting workplace harassment incidents.

According to data analyzed by Rep. Noh Woong-rae of the Democratic Party, a member of the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee, submitted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 6th, Naver has initiated investigations into only 6 out of 18 reported workplace harassment cases since the enforcement of the workplace harassment law, and has disciplined only one case.

In the only case where disciplinary action was taken, despite a superior slapping a subordinate in public, the perpetrator was suspended for 8 months and then reinstated. Meanwhile, the victim reportedly resigned.

The external investigation agency in charge of the case recommended dismissal of the perpetrator to the company, but the company ignored this and reinstated the individual.

In contrast, Kakao, a company in the same industry, took severe disciplinary actions such as dismissal or suspension in 14 out of 21 workplace harassment reports during the same period, accounting for 67% of the cases.

Rep. Noh stated, "The widespread workplace harassment within Naver is entirely the responsibility of the management," adding, "People were never part of the algorithm of the country's top IT company from the start."

Meanwhile, Naver's workplace harassment issues became public in May this year when an employee, unable to endure work pressure and insults, made an extreme choice. After the incident, Naver announced that it is actively responding to workplace harassment through an internal reporting system and external consulting.

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