By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
A judge has called for the injury he sustained in a work-related football match to be recognized as an industrial accident.
According to the Seoul Administration Court, the judge identified as Choi, filed a suit against the Government Employee Pension Service, claiming he was injured while playing in a football tournament organized by the president of Seoul High Court. He said the Pension Service should compensate the injury in the same manner as one incurred in the workplace.
Choi said the Service's decision not to class the football match as being part of his work duty should be reconsidered as it was a work commitment that included the participation of all his colleagues.
He alleged that the match was for all intents and purposes non-voluntary, all his seniors or bosses were present and the entrance fee was paid by each court, not by individual players.
During a semifinal match, Choi twisted his knee for which he had to be hospitalized.
Choi said he would hire a lawyer for the suit.