The Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) will begin a special inspection in connection with the Cheongju cafe case that sparked controversy after a part-time worker was reported to police on suspicion of occupational embezzlement.
The ministry said in a reference release distributed on the 31st that it had received a complaint of workplace harassment at a franchised coffee shop under The Born Korea and would conduct a special inspection accordingly.
The case, which recently spread mainly through online communities, erupted when a part-time worker at a branch in Cheongju was reported by the owner on suspicion of occupational embezzlement for drinking three leftover beverages worth 12,800 won.
In this inspection, the ministry plans to focus on checking whether the business site violated rules on unpaid wages and the principle of full wage payment, and cases of unpaid overtime, night, and holiday premiums through "splitting workplaces." It will closely review overall violations of various labor-related laws, including workplace harassment.
The ministry will examine compliance with working conditions, focusing on cafes in the Cheongju area where many part-time workers are employed, and plans to take additional supervisory steps if violations are found.
Minister Kim Young-hoon said, "It pains my heart to think of the burden that a part-time worker in their 20s, just starting out in society, must have felt," adding, "Because newcomers entering the labor market for the first time are those our society must protect together, we will expand oversight nationwide after this inspection to bakeries and cafes and lodging and dining establishments where many young part-time workers are employed."