Former Public Official Who Harassed Saying "Let's Go to Motel" Loses Dismissal Cancellation Lawsuit

A former Yeongam-gun public official who was dismissed for sexually harassing a junior employee filed an administrative lawsuit claiming the disciplinary action was unfair but lost the case.

According to the legal community on the 18th, the Gwangju District Court's 1st Administrative Division (Presiding Judge Park Sang-hyun) ruled against former Jeonnam Yeongam-gun public official Mr. A in the dismissal cancellation lawsuit he filed against the Yeongam-gun mayor.

In April of last year, while working as a team leader at a township office in Yeongam-gun, Jeonnam, Mr. A sexually harassed victim Ms. B, a public employee, by saying over the phone, "Let's go to a motel."

Afterward, he sent a text message to Ms. B and her mother apologizing, saying it was "an act committed while heavily intoxicated," and when there was no response, he visited their home.

Out of fear, Ms. B moved to a temporary residence and received psychiatric treatment.

The Jeonnam Provincial Personnel Committee dismissed Mr. A for violating the duty to maintain the dignity of public officials.

However, Mr. A filed a lawsuit arguing that since there was no physical contact and the misconduct was minor and occurred impulsively while intoxicated, the severe disciplinary action was too harsh.

The court ruled, "The dismissal falls within the disciplinary standards related to sexual harassment as stipulated in the Framework Act on Gender Equality."

It added, "It cannot be concluded that the plaintiff made the sexual harassment remarks impulsively as claimed, and there is considerable doubt about whether he is sincerely remorseful," and "He also failed to receive forgiveness from the victim."

Meanwhile, between 2017 and 2018, Mr. A sent or called a new female employee with sexually harassing messages such as "You have a pretty figure" and "Do you know how men look at you?" a total of 30 times. He was disciplined with a two-month suspension for this incident.

In 2021, he was reprimanded for causing a disturbance at his workplace by verbally abusing others and behaving roughly while intoxicated.

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