South Korean victims fight for right to know harassment sanctions

In South Korea, workplace harassment victims are advocating for legislative changes to ensure they are informed of the disciplinary actions taken against perpetrators. Baek Song-yi, a 40-year-old former employee of an American corporation, is leading this campaign after her own experience with verbal abuse from a superior lasting three years.

Although an internal investigation confirmed Baek's allegations, the company refused to disclose the specific sanctions imposed on the harasser, citing privacy laws. Baek reported feeling a lack of justice and an inability to move forward because she remained unaware of whether her requests, such as restricting the harasser's office access, were granted. She is now campaigning for laws similar to those in California, which limit the use of confidentiality agreements in harassment cases and mandate that victims be notified of disciplinary outcomes.

While South Korea has had anti-harassment laws for seven years, critics argue they are insufficient. Data from the NGO Gapjil 119 indicates that only 15% of victims currently report such incidents. Legal experts note that current regulations grant employers broad discretion regarding whether or not to disclose disciplinary measures to the victim.