Chanel Korea's union starts action against workplace sex offender

Chanel Korea's union members denounce the luxury firm for neglecting the sexual harassment scandal after they filed a complaint against the suspect to the Seoul Western District Prosecutor's Office in Seoul, last Thursday. / Yonhap

By Kim Jae-heun

Chanel Korea's union has commenced legal action against a senior executive in his forties for sexually harassing more than a dozen Chanel employees.

The union filed a suit with the Seoul Western District Prosecutor's Office Thursday, accusing the suspect of sexually harassing at least 15 employees within the last decade. The union also denounced the company for not dismissing the official even two months after the allegations came to light.

“It has been two months since we have notified the company of this incident of sexual harassment and requested it to take action,” a union official said at a press conference in front of the prosecutor's office in reference to one of the victims. “However, the company is neglecting the issue which could cause secondary damage and has not taken instant measures to resolve the issue.”

“The offender is still working with the victim. The company's latest reshuffle notice still shows him employed in a management position, which leaves victims feeling trapped under the assailant's control.”

Chanel Korea says it took immediate action to separate the victims from sexual advances by the accused employee, according to a company statement released on Nov. 25.

However, the union said there were more victims who had not come forward.

The company has brought in an external investigator to assess the matter, but the union claims the investigator, who is from Kim & Chang, is likely to be biased since Chanel Korea has business relations extending back over many years with the law firm.

Chanel Korea had planned to open a personnel committee last week but it did not happen. In regards to the possibility of secondary damage, the company only emphasized that it is “ensuring continuous protection and support for the victims,” but did not give specific details on the measures taken.

The company is also under fire for forcing the victims to sign non-disclosure agreements when they reported the alleged sexual harassment last month.

The senior manager, who was in charge of managing the luxury brand's boutiques in Korea, reportedly hugged female workers and touched their breasts and buttocks without their consent.