In connection with the case of a female firefighter in Gwangju who ended her life after being unable to endure workplace harassment, the perpetrators caught committing misconduct in a government inspection are set to face heavy punishment in large numbers.
The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Fire Headquarters said on the 27th that it convened a disciplinary committee on the 24th to review and decide disciplinary action for 15 firefighters found to have violated rules in a probe by the Office for Government Policy Coordination's Government Joint Public Service Discipline Inspection Team.
According to the disciplinary committee's review, 12 of the 15 investigated received heavy disciplinary action, including two who were dismissed, the severest penalty, while the remaining three received light discipline.
The committee members examined from multiple angles the specific circumstances and degree of responsibility for matters confirmed in the inspection, including forcing attendance at drinking gatherings or urging alcohol consumption, handling without sincerity the investigation petition requested by the deceased employee's family, and failing to follow rules when handling personal information.
Earlier, the Office for Government Policy Coordination on the 24th of last month announced the results of a special inspection of the National Fire Agency, the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Fire Headquarters, and the Gwangsan Fire Station, and requested discipline for 17 people involved.
According to the OPC inspection, they repeatedly forced Fire Sergeant A, who died, to attend drinking gatherings and made personal errands, turned a blind eye to the family's complaints, and distorted and leaked the victim's counseling records, committing workplace harassment and improper administration.
Fire Sergeant A made an extreme choice in Oct. last year. The investigation found that the deceased was called out to company dinners no fewer than 24 times during the short period from July 2024 to early Oct. last year. In particular, at drinking gatherings that continued until dawn at entertainment venues or karaoke rooms, A was given inappropriate instructions such as "Sit between the chief and the Director," and "Just call me oppa comfortably."