Ex-Nurse Alleges Continued 'Taem' Bullying at Hospital Where Colleague Died

Allegations of severe workplace bullying, known as 'taem,' have resurfaced at a hospital in Gwangju, South Korea, following the tragic death of a 27-year-old nurse, Go Su-bin. A former nurse, identified as Ms. Kim, has come forward, claiming she also suffered similar harassment during her employment at the same facility.

'Taem' is a deeply ingrained and harmful practice in some Korean workplaces, particularly in nursing, where senior staff mentally and emotionally torment junior colleagues until they are 'burned to ashes.' Ms. Kim alleges that her ordeal began shortly after she joined the hospital's emergency room in June 2022. She described incidents where, after making mistakes, she was ordered by a senior nurse to clean up medical instruments scattered on the floor.

Further compounding the alleged abuse, Ms. Kim claims she was dragged into a CPR room and subjected to harsh reprimands for minor infractions, such as not bowing properly. These experiences, she states, created an environment of extreme psychological distress.

The case has ignited public outrage and prompted a strong response from the highest levels of government. President Lee Jae-myung has denounced 'taem' as an "unjustifiable and horrific violence" and has ordered a thorough and strict investigation into the matter. In response, the police have established a dedicated investigative team to look into the allegations and bring those responsible to justice.

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'Taem' is an unjustifiable and horrific violence.