By Nam Hyun-woo
A court said Wednesday that harassing female colleagues by sending non-business mobile messages habitually can incur disciplinary suspension from work.
The Seoul Administrative Court ruled the suspension of a public servant from his job for two months for harassing female colleagues by sending KaKao Talk messages privately was justifiable.
The public servant at the Ministry of Justice sent messages such as “Hi, what are you doing now?” “Let’s go to a movie,” and “Is the man in your KaKao Talk profile photo your husband?” to seven female co-workers from 2010 to 2011.
The ministry suspended the man from his job for debasing public servants’ dignity and harassing fellow employees. He demanded a review of his punishment and got one month reduction, but filed a suit calling for a withdrawal of the punishment.
The court said in its ruling that though his behavior may not have had sexual intentions, sending such messages might sexually humiliate the recipients.
“Public servants are regarded with high morality and integrity. But his behavior defamed public servants and harmed the public’s trust in the government,” the court added.