The head of the union made physical contact with a female employee at an after-dinner party
“Last year, I went through a similar thing in the union president’s office.”
“Make sure to sit next to a female employee…actually aiding and abetting sexual harassment”
“It’s hard to protest against the head of the union who has the right to appoint personnel”
[앵커]
A report came in that the head of a local agricultural cooperative in Incheon habitually sexually harassed female employees.
At the dinner party, the head of the union was caught holding the hands of female employees and hugging their shoulders.
Reporter Kim Da-hyun reports.
[기자]
A place for a karaoke after-party at a local Nonghyup branch in Incheon.
Union head Mr. Hong puts his hand on the shoulder of female employee A.
Mr. A tries to shake it off, but sometimes wraps his arms around him and hugs him.
Prior to this, while having dinner, the union leader held the hand of another female employee.
Mr. A testified that he went through a similar thing last year when he went to the union president’s office to say hello to his reinstatement.
[A 씨 / 인천 모 지역농협 직원 : 제가 인사를 마치고 나가는 길에 마중 나오시면서 그런 말씀을 하신 거예요. 저는 너무 깜짝 놀라서 그대로 멈춰 있었던 것 같아요.]
In addition, it is said that it has become an organizational culture to always sit a female employee next to Mr. Hong at every dinner party and feed him even snacks, explaining that it is in fact an atmosphere of aiding and abetting sexual harassment.
[A 씨 / 인천 모 지역농협 직원 : 제가 인사를 마치고 나가는 길에 마중 나오시면서 그런 말씀을 하신 거예요. 저는 너무 깜짝 놀라서 그대로 멈춰 있었던 것 같아요.]
Another female employee at the same branch, Mr. B, also said that he became afraid of the company dinner itself after being sexually harassed by Mr. Hong.
[B 씨 / 인천 모 지역농협 직원 : 뒤로 이렇게 빼면 뺄수록 계속 손이 따라오는 거예요. 특히 가슴 쪽이니까 많이 불쾌하기도 했고.]
However, it is not easy to raise an issue hastily toward the head of the union, who makes decisions on the promotion and dismissal of employees.
[B 씨 / 인천 모 지역농협 직원 : 옆에서 방관하고 있는 사람들도 문제라고 생각해서…. 저보다 훨씬 오래되셨던 분들도 말씀을 못 하는 상황이었으니까.]
I went to get an explanation, but I couldn’t meet Mr. Hong, the head of the union.
“The head of the union was not there, so I came down instead.”
Mr. Hong, who belatedly called YTN reporters, said he couldn’t remember at all because he was very drunk at the time, but if he did, he apologized to the victim.
He also explained that he only sat in the seat prepared by the staff, and that he had never intentionally sat side by side with a female staff member.
The police, who received the complaints from the victims, will soon call Hong as a suspect to investigate the incident.
This is YTN Kim Dahyun.
YTN Dahyun Kim (dasam0801@ytn.co.kr)
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