President Lee condemns firefighter's death as 'worst bullying' after harassment confirmed

President Lee Jae-myung has denounced the death of a female firefighter, reportedly subjected to workplace harassment including forced alcohol consumption, as "the worst form of bullying." The President stated during a meeting at the Blue House that an investigation ordered by the Civil Service Commission had confirmed the allegations. He expressed deep sympathy for the deceased firefighter and her family, questioning the mindset of those who dismissed the severity of the actions. Lee urged all government ministries and agencies to conduct thorough internal reviews, emphasizing the need to address a perceived tendency to downplay serious misconduct. He specifically cited instances such as seating female employees next to superiors, compelling them to pour drinks, and forcing them to participate in after-hours gatherings where they were pressured to drink excessively. The President questioned why women were forced to drink when they expressed reluctance. This strong condemnation comes after an investigation revealed that the Gwangju Metropolitan Fire and Rescue Service had failed to properly investigate claims of workplace bullying against a female employee for over five months, initially attributing her death to personal relationship issues. The Civil Service Commission's subsequent findings confirmed the workplace harassment.

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The worst form of bullying.