Posco CEO apologizes for alleged sexual assault case between workers

Steelmaker Posco made its first public apology regarding a recent alleged sexual assault and harassment case that occurred within the workplace.

Posco's Pohang steel mill in North Gyeongsang [JOONGANG PHOTO]

Steelmaker Posco made its first public apology regarding a recent alleged sexual assault and harassment case that occurred within the workplace.

"We truly apologize to the victim and her family for the recent unsavory sexual violation incident, and the company feels strongly responsible for it," Posco CEO Kim Hag-dong said in an apology statement Thursday. "We will make sure our employees receive further education on sexual ethics through outside experts to prevent the reoccurrence of similar problems."

"We will take all measures needed so that the affected employee can quickly return to her normal life," Kim added.

The public apology came as a woman in her 20s, who works at Posco's Pohang steel mill in North Gyeongsang, earlier this month reported to the police that she had been sexually assaulted and harassed by four of her colleagues. The woman and the four employees all belong to the same work division.

Pohang Nambu Police Precinct is currently investigating the cases: one employee for alleged sexual assault and three for sexual harassment.

The woman claims that she was sexually assaulted by a man, her senior colleague, at her home in Pohang on May 29. The two live in the same building, provided by the company.

According to JoongAng Ilbo reports, her senior colleague called her at around 2:30 a.m. to ask her to move her car. She came down to the parking lot, and then he asked her to lend him batteries as his automatic door lock ran out of power.

As she was going back into her home to get batteries, the man forced himself in.

"He said he wanted to sleep at my home for just three hours, and I refused," the woman told the JoongAng Ilbo. "I couldn't keep turning a blind eye to him because he was my senior work colleague, so I told him to just stay on the sofa."

"Then he suddenly entered my room and sexually assaulted me," she continued. "I [accidentally] hit my head on the wall as I resisted. I was diagnosed with a concussion."

KakaoTalk messages between a woman in her 20s who works at the Pohang steel mill and her senior colleague who she claims sexually abused her [JOONGANG PHOTO]

She also sent the JoongAng Ilbo screenshots of the KakaoTalk messages they exchanged after the incident.

"I don't know what to say to you," the message read. "I don't remember anything, but I acknowledge my mistake. I'm so sorry."

She also sued the other three employees who habitually harassed and molested her during the team's after-work dinners.

The woman is known to have worked at the Pohang steel mill since 2018. The division has around 50 employees, and she was the only female.

Posco said it dismissed the head of the team, and excluded the four accused from work.

“We will dutifully cooperate with the police investigation, thoroughly investigate the people involved and reprimand them severely, including those in the management position,” Kim said in the apology statement.

The Posco faction of the Korean Metal Workers' Union immediately issued a statement, urging Choi Jeong-woo, Posco Holdings chairman, to step down from the position.

"This is the worst sexual abuse and harassment case," the statement read. "The company's status took a nosedive, and its image has been tarnished. Choi should take all responsibility and resign."

BY SARAH CHEA, BAEK KYUNG-SEO [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]