Investigation Confirms 'Fake Announcement' Over Fiancé Conflict Was 'Worst Workplace Abuse'

[Anchor]

As previously reported, a female firefighter in her 20s took her own life after struggling with excessive drinking culture in her workplace. An investigation by the Office for Government Policy Coordination, under the Prime Minister's Office, has confirmed that allegations of forced drinking and the suppression of requests for internal inspection were true.

Bae Seong-jae reports.

[Reporter]

[June 10, SBS 8 News: Last October, a female civil servant in her 20s, identified as A, who worked for the Gwangju Fire Headquarters, took her own life.]

The Gwangju Fire Headquarters and the bereaved family held conflicting positions regarding the reason for the firefighter's death.

The fire department wrote in her death discharge document that she "had difficulties in her relationship with her fiancé, B," but B's account was completely different.

[Fiancé of A: She was extremely stressed when she came home, saying that a new division chief was coming who liked to drink, and that she was being told she didn't participate well in company dinners and didn't drink enough.]

B and the bereaved family requested an internal inspection based on evidence such as the deceased's KakaoTalk messages, but no action was taken for over five months. The inspection only began after they notified the National Fire Agency, the higher authority.

The day after SBS exclusively reported these details, President Lee Jae-myung ordered an investigation by the Office for Government Policy Coordination.

The results confirmed that the allegations, including forced drinking by superiors and the suppression of inspection requests, were true.

[President Lee Jae-myung: It is the absolute worst kind of workplace abuse. They made a fake announcement as if it were due to a conflict with her boyfriend, and when she asked for an inspection, they simply ignored it. (The investigation by the Office for Government Policy Coordination) shows that all of this has been revealed to be true.]

The bereaved family emphasized that those involved in the incident must be held strictly accountable.

[Mother of A: I hope this serves as an example so that not only for my daughter, but for others in the future, such things will not happen again.]

The Fire Headquarters of the National Public Service Union also submitted a petition to the police last week, and an investigation into the matter is currently underway.

Reported by Bae Seong-jae | Video by Park Sun-soo | Graphics by Choi Jae-young
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.