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Summary of Workplace Harassment Prohibition System and Sanctions / Ministry of Employment and Labor

Going forward, if an employer is reported as a perpetrator of workplace harassment, they will be recommended for exclusion from the investigation process to prevent conflicts of interest, and specific procedures for the recusal and withdrawal of investigators have been established.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on July 2 that it has revised the "Workplace Harassment Prevention and Response Manual" to ensure that if an employer is reported as a perpetrator of workplace harassment, they are excluded from the investigation process. This revision focuses on ensuring fairer investigations into workplace harassment and making it easier to render judgments on the ground.

While the system prohibiting workplace harassment has taken root since its introduction in 2019, the number of cases reported to labor offices has steadily increased. The number of workplace harassment cases rose each year, from 7,774 in 2021 to 16,373 in 2025. Workplace harassment often manifests as a combination of multiple behaviors, such as repeated verbal abuse, physical assault, ostracization, unfair work orders, personal errands, and exclusion from work without reasonable justification.

Support for small businesses will also be strengthened. The Ministry of Labor plans to expand free prevention education, primarily focusing on workplaces with fewer than 50 employees, and to continuously promote campaigns to prevent workplace harassment. In the investigation phase, the role of labor inspectors will be reinforced to professionally handle complex cases, and the operation of the expert adjudication committee will be revitalized.

Meanwhile, through this revision, the Ministry of Labor expects to raise the credibility of workplace investigations and establish standards that both management and labor find acceptable.

Kim Young-hoon, Minister of Employment and Labor, said, "Workplace harassment is an issue that no one should have to endure alone. Creating a workplace where everyone is respected and can work with peace of mind is a fundamental principle that our society must uphold together." He added, "We will also actively review the introduction of a labor inspector's right to suspend an investigation if they are subjected to abusive behavior, such as verbal abuse or physical assault."

                                                                                                            Kim Bo-young