Head of cooperative federation arrested for verbally, physically abusing employees

Sunchang Police Station (Yonhap)

The head of the Sunjeong Livestock Cooperative Federation in Jeonbuk State was arrested by the police for verbally and physically abusing her employees, as well as unfair work practices and withholding wages, according to the police.

Sunchang Police Station in Jeonbuk State said Friday in one incident, the chairperson, surnamed Koh, allegedly assaulted an employee three times at a funeral for joining a labor union. The head was also accused of assaulting other employees with her shoes reportedly because the dining chairs at the Hanwoo Premium Hall of the Federation were not properly tidied up.

The case came to light when the victims filed a police complaint. Upon receiving the complaint, the Labor Ministry initiated an investigation into the federation by forming a special labor supervision team. The investigation uncovered a total of 18 cases that violated labor laws, including violence, abuse, sexual harassment, unfair work practices and unpaid wages amounting to 206 million won ($154,081).

Koh was also found to have forced her employees to resign by breaking a bottle at a karaoke establishment and swearing at them.

In December last year, the federation held a vote to dismiss Koh. During the vote, 84.3 percent of a total of 2,284 members participated, with 53.27 percent, or 1,026, voting in favor of her dismissal, 899 voting against and one invalid vote. As the vote did not achieve the more than two-thirds majority necessary to dismiss the head according to the federation's internal rules, the motion for dismissal was rejected.

By Shin Ji-hye(shinjh@heraldcorp.com)