Returned Close to Victim Despite Sexual Harassment Penalty... Why Does Coast Guard Cite "This Regulation"?

A controversy has arisen after it was revealed that a Korea Coast Guard officer disciplined for making sexually harassing remarks returned to the coast guard office where the victim works two years later.

According to the Pyeongtaek Coast Guard, Inspector A, who received a three-month pay cut disciplinary action in 2024 for sexually harassing remarks, returned in May to the coast guard office where the victim of the incident is located.

While working at the Pyeongtaek Coast Guard in 2022, Inspector A made sexually harassing remarks to a junior colleague, who was the victim. Two years later, following the victim's report, Inspector A received a disciplinary pay cut and was transferred to another coast guard office.

Later, when Inspector A expressed the intent to return to his original post, the Coast Guard accepted it and sent Inspector A back to the Pyeongtaek Coast Guard, where the victim is stationed.

Internal Coast Guard regulations restrict individuals disciplined for sexual misconduct and their victims from working at the same coast guard office for two years, and Inspector A returned as soon as this separation period ended.

The victim is reportedly protesting the situation of having to work within the same organization as Inspector A.

As the controversy grew, the Coast Guard stated that it made maximum efforts to separate the disciplined individual and the victim within the scope permitted by internal regulations.

The Pyeongtaek Coast Guard stated that, considering internal regulations restrict individuals disciplined for sexual misconduct and their victims from working in the same building and department for 10 years, it has separated the work departments of the two individuals and is taking measures to prevent any contact during work processes.

It also added, "There are only 21 coast guard offices nationwide, so there are practical difficulties in indefinitely separating the affiliations of all disciplined individuals and victims."

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video edited by Jang Yu-jin | Design by Lee Su-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.