Fines Imposed on Former Severance Secretariat Chief and Security Company for Obstructing Union Activities

Former Severance Hospital secretary-general and security company officials, who were indicted for obstructing the union activities of cleaning workers and inducing withdrawal, were sentenced to fines.

On the 14th, Judge Kim Yumi of the Criminal Division 6 at Seoul Western District Court sentenced former Severance Hospital secretary-general Kwon Mo and Vice President Lee Mo of the security company Taegabm to fines of 12 million won each on charges of violating the Labor Union Act.

The Taegabm corporation was fined 8 million won, and two Severance Hospital secretariat officials, two Taegabm directors, as well as former and current site managers and cleaning supervisors from Taegabm were each fined between 2 million and 4 million won.

The court pointed out, "A labor union organized to protect workers' rights is independent from the employer, and the employer must not interfere in the organization or operation of the union under any pretext. Therefore, the defendants' actions are fully condemnable."

The court added, "Due to the defendants' actions, the union in this case appears to have suffered significant disruption in its organization and operation, and the defendants have not been forgiven by the union or others."

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Public Transport Workers' Union held a press conference in front of the Western District Court after the sentencing, stating, "Eight years after union destruction, only 4 out of about 140 union members remain," and criticized, "We strongly regret the prosecution's low sentencing recommendation and the court's imposition of fines."

The union also demanded a thorough investigation into the obstruction of union activities, the expulsion of Taegabm, an apology from the hospital, and the guarantee of union bargaining rights.

In 2016, when about 140 cleaning workers joined the Public Transport Workers' Union, the Seoul Regional Public Service Branch of the Public Transport Workers' Union raised concerns that the hospital and Taegabm conspired to "destroy the union." The prosecution indicted nine people, including former secretary-general Kwon. The prosecution viewed that they conspired to implement a union dissolution strategy by monitoring union establishment trends, obstructing the launch ceremony, and urging withdrawal.

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