The Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) said on the 20th that it will launch a labor inspection into the National Institute of Fisheries Science Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute. The institute is where allegations were raised that a temporary worker in their 30s left a suicide note and died due to workplace bullying.
That day, the ministry said the Daejeon Regional Ministry of Employment and Labor's Metropolitan Labor Standards Supervision Division will conduct a labor inspection of the National Institute of Fisheries Science Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute in Geumsan, South Chungcheong.
The suicide note of A, a temporary worker in their 30s, reportedly stated that the worker was slapped four times by a superior and had their hair grabbed until the head was forced backward.
With this labor inspection, the ministry plans to investigate the allegations of workplace bullying involving the deceased. It will also check whether there was additional bullying targeting other employees. It will examine the overall organizational culture, working hours, discrimination against non-regular workers, and other violations of labor-related laws, and said it will take strict action if any legal violations are confirmed.
Kwon Chang-jun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL), said, "It is very regrettable that, although the state should fulfill its social responsibility as a model employer, allegations have been raised that workplace bullying occurred and was condoned."