South Korean firefighters disciplined for workplace bullying

A group of 15 firefighters in South Korea faced disciplinary measures, including two dismissions, for workplace misconduct. The South Korean government's Public Service Integrity Inspection Team confirmed violations of regulations, leading to the disciplinary committee's decision on July 24.

The misconduct involved forcing colleagues to drink alcohol during gatherings, inappropriate responses to a family's request for an investigation, and violations in handling personal information. The punishments ranged from minor reprimands to severe disciplinary actions.

This disciplinary action comes after a tragic incident in October, where a female firefighter in her 20s from the Gwangsan Fire Station died by suicide, citing workplace harassment. Initially, the fire station dismissed the case as personal, but an investigation by the Ministry of Government Policy Coordination revealed a pattern of abuse over 15 months.

The victim reported being forced to attend 24 drinking sessions, where she was pressured to drink and accompany superiors to karaoke. She was also made to run personal errands, such as driving a superior's car on weekends. The investigation recommended disciplinary action against 17 individuals across different fire departments and planned to refer two retirees for investigation.