In what cases can someone be punished for workplace bullying?

Workplace bullying applies when someone uses their superior position to inflict physical or mental suffering through actions exceeding the appropriate scope, and if the employer dismisses or disadvantages the victim for reporting it, they may be subject to imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 30 million won under Article 109 of the Labor Standards Act.

Repeated ostracism, ridicule, discrimination, unjust work orders, information blocking, invasion of privacy, and insults all constitute workplace abuse. You may collect related evidence and report it to the company or the labor office, and if the employer fails to take protective measures, they will be subject to separate punishment.

Let me explain the methods for collecting evidence of workplace harassment.

① Recording conversations
→ Under Article 14, Paragraph 1 of the Protection of Communications Secrets Act, you cannot record private conversations between others, but if you are a party to the conversation, you can record without the other party's consent.

② Securing statements from coworkers
→ If your coworkers can provide fact-confirmation statements, written statements, or testimony, this will be a great help in proving harassment.

③ Preserving records such as text messages and KakaoTalk messages
→ For harassment that takes place via mobile devices, it is good to back up the entire content including the context before and after the conversation.

We recommend gathering sufficient evidence based on the collected materials and considering legal action.

If you have suffered workplace bullying, it is also a good idea to promptly seek help from a labor attorney.