"Interview Score Manipulation" Commercial Bank Loses Second Trial... Ordered to Pay 30 Million Won Compensation

Compensation Reduced by 20 Million Won Compared to First Trial

Hana Bank, which manipulated interview scores during the recruitment process, lost again in the second trial of a damages claim lawsuit filed by a rejected candidate who suffered damages. However, the second trial court reduced the compensation amount by 20 million won.

The Civil Division 15 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Yoon Gang-yeol) ruled on the 2nd that Mr. A partially won the lawsuit against Hana Bank for damages, just like in the first trial.

The court stated, "Hana Bank arbitrarily lowered Mr. A's score in a manner that contradicts internal standards for reasons unacceptable by social norms," and pointed out that "this is an illegal act against Mr. A's expectation that an objective and fair recruitment process would be conducted."

However, it added, "Considering that it cannot be definitively concluded that Mr. A would have been hired if the scores had not been changed, the consolation damages were set at 30 million won."

Mr. A, who applied for the second half of 2016 new bank clerk recruitment, passed the document screening, aptitude test, group interview, and executive interview, and was listed on the final successful candidates internally prepared.

However, the HR manager at the time, after checking the list of successful candidates, instructed the staff that "applicants from top-tier universities must be hired," and accordingly, the staff raised the interview scores of 14 candidates, including those from specific universities and "candidates recommended by the bank president," resulting in Mr. A's final rejection. Subsequently, Mr. A filed a lawsuit against Hana Bank demanding compensation of 210 million won in total, including part of the wages he would have received if hired and mental damages.

The first trial ruled that Hana Bank significantly damaged the objectivity and fairness of the recruitment process and abused its discretionary power, ordering payment of 50 million won.

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