Ikea said on the 10th that it is "taking the concerns very seriously" over allegations that it gave a personnel disadvantage to a worker who returned to the job after parental leave.
Ikea Korea said in a statement the same day that it "respects the relevant laws and regulations of the Republic of Korea and ensures that all coworkers (employees) can safely use their legally guaranteed rights, such as pregnancy, childbirth, and parental leave," and stated accordingly.
It added, "Over the past year, 118 out of 2,000 executives and employees have taken parental leave, of whom 110 have returned and are continuing their careers," and "the procedures of the relevant authorities are underway, and we are cooperating faithfully with the investigation."
Earlier, a media outlet reported that a petition had been filed alleging that Ikea Korea demoted the rank of a worker who returned after taking parental leave and pressed for a voluntary resignation, and that the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) is investigating.
The Ikea Korea Chapter of the Mart Industry Labor Union said in a statement the same day, "Regardless of a worker's rank and career, forced resignations are rampant, and unilateral job transfers without consent and pressure to cut wages are being imposed," and added, "In particular, for workers who sweat blood in unseen places at dawn, they do not even turn on the minimum air conditioning."
President Lee Jae-myung shared related media reports on X (formerly Twitter) on the morning of the same day and wrote, "Just as our corporations should not engage in anti-labor and irrational conduct abroad, foreign corporations should not do so domestically," and added, "If a thorough investigation confirms the facts, we will take strict action in line with international standards."