"National Pension Service, Lenient Punishment for Executive's Sexual Harassment Remarks"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park So-yeon] Criticism has arisen that the National Pension Service gave a 'light punishment' to an executive who made sexually harassing remarks in front of internal employees.

On the 13th, Seo Jeong-sook, a member of the People Power Party, issued a press release ahead of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee's audit of the National Pension Service, stating, "The head of the Gwangju Regional Office of the National Pension Service (Grade 1) made a remark on March 24 during a labor-management meeting, saying that the call center work environment 'reminded him of a red-light district.'"

In response, the National Pension Service disciplined the regional office head with a one-month suspension. During the suspension period, on July 1, he was appointed as a 'Grade 1 Senior Advisor,' and a month later, on August 1, he was transferred to another region as a 'Grade 1 Branch Manager,' maintaining his Grade 1 position.

Rep. Seo emphasized, "Allowing an employee who committed sexual harassment to retain the Grade 1 position, receive a Senior Advisor appointment, and then become a branch manager in a different region is 'protecting our own.' The light punishment given to the employee involved in sexual misconduct must be corrected and strict measures enforced."

Last September, following an incident involving employees smoking marijuana, the National Pension Service announced a 'One-Strike-Out Policy,' stating that six types of misconduct?sexual misconduct, acceptance of money or entertainment, embezzlement or misappropriation of public funds, hiring irregularities, drunk driving, and drug use?would be severely punished with dismissal or higher penalties even for a single violation if the case is serious.

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