An executive of a welfare association who forced a subordinate female employee to marry another male employee was sentenced to a suspended prison term by the court.
On the 3rd, according to the legal community, Judge Seol Il-Young of the Suwon District Court's Criminal Division 19 sentenced A, in his 60s, to six months in prison with a two-year suspension for coercion.
A, who was the head of the management of the B Welfare Association, sat male employee D next to subordinate employee C, who was requesting approval in the head office on March 24, 2021, around 3 p.m., and said, "You two have a good yin-yang compatibility" and "Write a letter of resignation saying you will quit if you don't get married by the end of May."
When C refused to write the letter of resignation, A threatened, "If you don't write this, you can't leave," implying that there would be work-related disadvantages and obtained the letter.
A admitted to making such remarks but denied the accusations of coercion, which the court did not accept.
Judge Seol stated, "The defendant was the head of management at that time and demanded the writing of the letter from subordinate employees C and D, mentioning resignation or resignation letters," adding, "Even if the defendant was not directly thinking of dismissal at the time, the victim would have been concerned that refusing the defendant's request, which could significantly influence personnel and treatment, would lead to disadvantageous treatment."
"The defendant forced the writing of the letter concerning personal matters, and even after the letter was written, repeatedly pressured them to date," he said, adding, "It is easy to predict that the degree of mental suffering the victim experienced after ultimately giving up his job through sick leave and leave of absence was significant."
However, Judge Seol acquitted A regarding the charge of threatening, "If you can't get married by May, you're all done," citing the possibility that it occurred after the writing of the letter.