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A court ruling has come out that the discipline received by an executive from a public institution who was suspended for remarks degrading women was lawful.



Chuncheon District Court Wonju Support Civil Division 1 (Chief Judge Jang Soo-young) ruled against the plaintiff in the 'Honesty Invalidation Confirmation Suit' filed by Mr. A in his 50s against Wonju Innovation City B Corporation.



Mr. A, an executive at the Southeast Asian branch of Corporation B, was suspended for two months in March of last year according to the results of the grievance deliberation committee deliberation that 16 out of 37 grievance reports from 2019 to 2020 were 'bullying and sexual harassment in the workplace'. A disciplinary action was taken, and Mr. A filed an administrative lawsuit against it.



During the trial, Mr. A argued that "there was a procedural defect that did not sufficiently guarantee the opportunity to state opinions, and even if the cause for disciplinary action was recognized, it was an excessive disposition that deviated from or abused discretion."



The court judged that all 16 reasons for disciplinary action were recognized after examining the legally adopted evidence.



The judge said, "It is acknowledged that he said, 'The governor came out several times to educate the children of public corporations in high school 1 and 2, and Korean women are amazing. Now they are being punished with a boomerang.'" It is an expression of negative perception about sexual harassment, and it is 'corresponding to bullying in the workplace'."



The judge also said that at the farewell party for local employees, Mr. A said, "Please entertain us until the food is served. Sing, dance, or go out and die," and sent all employees to work after the government's approval to resume business due to Corona 19. It was also judged to be bullying in the workplace.



Mr. A said to an outside business official at a lunch meeting for daily business discussions, “Your father-in-law may have a concubine.



The judge said, "It is acknowledged that the plaintiff not only violated local laws and regulations, but also repeatedly said words that amounted to harassment and sexual harassment in the workplace, such as excessively reprimanding employees or creating a sexist working environment." revealed.



At the same time, "The plaintiff's act is highly reprehensible and highly likely to be criticized, and there is no flaw in the disciplinary procedure," he said.



After the verdict of the first trial, this judgment was finalized as Mr. A did not appeal.



(Photo = Yonhap News)