A state agency on workers' welfare has decided to compensate a female worker who suffered from repeated sexual harassment at her workplace, the agency said Saturday, acknowledging her sufferings as workplace injuries.
This is the first time the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Services acknowledged sufferings from sexual harassment as work-related injuries.
According to the agency, the woman, whose name was withheld for privacy reasons, has been sexually harassed by two male officials at her company since April 2009. She has worked at a quality testing department of Hyundai Motor Co. for the past 14 years.
The welfare agency said it accepted the woman's request to receive treatment for industrial injuries, partly based on an earlier decision by the National Human Rights Commission for the two male officials to pay 9 million won (US$7,725) in total in compensation.
A diagnosis said the woman showed symptoms of insomnia, depression and anxiety, apparently as she was placed under a serious amount of stress from repeated sexual harassment at her workplace.
She will be paid for her medical expenses and receive other financial compensation, the agency said.
The men were found to have harassed the woman with inappropriate text messages and late-night phone calls, with one of them telling her that he would come sleep at her place. (Yonhap)