[2021 National Audit] "National Pension Executives Made Sexual Harassment Remarks Like 'Brothel' at Labor-Management Meeting"

On the 13th, Seo Jeong-sook, a member of the People Power Party, showed related pharmaceutical products during the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee's audit of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, stating that prescription drugs can be easily purchased through illegal distribution networks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Criticism has been raised that the National Pension Service imposed a 'light punishment' on 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 and the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, stated at the National Pension Service audit, "The head of the National Pension Service Gwangju Regional Office (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.'"

Rep. Seo said, "According to the Service's data, the Service imposed a one-month suspension on the regional office head," and argued, "The light punishment given to the employee involved in sexual misconduct must be corrected and strict disciplinary action should be taken."

Rep. Seo added, "Last year, the National Pension Service showed a willingness to reform, including the 'One-Strike Out System,' but it is not being implemented on the ground," and requested, "Please establish and report special measures related to this."

In response to an incident last September involving employees smoking marijuana, the Service announced that six types of misconduct?'sexual misconduct, acceptance of money or entertainment, embezzlement or misappropriation of public funds, hiring misconduct, drunk driving, and drugs'?would be severely punished with dismissal or higher penalties even for a single violation if the case is serious.

Regarding this, Kim Yong-jin, the director of the National Pension Service, initially responded, "The employee was demoted," but later corrected his statement, saying, "The employee was not demoted." It has been confirmed that the employee is currently filing a 'disciplinary invalidation lawsuit' in objection to the one-month suspension.

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