 The Antarctica Sejong Station of Korea, a state research center, is being criticized for alleged attempts to disclose physical abuses among staff members. / Korea Times |
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
A cook who was beaten up by one of the members of the Antarctica Sejong Station of Korea will sue the government for compensation.
Park Kyung, 39, a former cook at the Antarctica station, said his human rights were severely infringed upon by the state research agency.
Park was attacked by a drunken staff member last July, but the captain of the station has allegedly attempted to conceal the incident by scrapping a CCTV file. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the supervisor of the station, has already fired the assailant and plans to summon the station chief.
"I am not the only victim. As I know, many former staff members used to be assaulted by their seniors and were forced to keep silent. If I didn't disclose this case, violent practices (that have continued for a long time) would not stop," Park told The Korea Times over the phone, Monday.
"I decided to go to the station at the South Pole, while I was thinking over what I can do for my country as a cook, but I feel betrayed by the government," he added.
The research center has claimed that Park failed to adapt to the station, causing conflict with its other members.
Park said that the research center has been blind to the corruption and selected inadequate members without scrutiny.
"The assailant was already known among many employees there as a very violent person and beat another staff member years ago. However, the agency is still trying to cover up the case and is asserting that I caused problems," the 39-year-old cook said.
Asked how much money he will request from the government, Park said his lawyer will make the decision.
Established in February 1988, the Sejong Station is a research facility for the Korea Antarctic Research Program consisting of 11 facility buildings and two observatories, and it is located on the Barton Peninsula.
The station can accommodate up to 90 people from the Korean Ocean Research and Development Institute, and scientists from other institutions.
kswho@koreatimes.co.kr
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