A company CEO and a director who repeatedly belittled an employee in a group chat by calling them a "blockhead" and other derogatory terms dozens of times have been sentenced to fines.

Judge Song In-chul of Criminal Division 9 at the Ulsan District Court announced today (Sept. 2) that fines of 1 million won have been ordered for each of the defendants, identified as A and B, who were put on trial on charges of insult.

CEO A, who runs a manufacturing company, used the expression "blockhead" and cursed at employee C in a KakaoTalk group chat shared with other employees in November 2022.

Over a period of about two years, A humiliated C in the group chat roughly 32 times in this manner.

Director B also used similar expressions about 20 times in the group chat, causing C to feel humiliated and ashamed.

C eventually filed a complaint against A and B with the police.

The court stated the reasoning for its sentencing, noting, "Considering the nature of the insults and the duration of the offenses, the crimes are of a serious nature, and the victim appears to have suffered considerable psychological distress." The court added, "The victim wants the defendants to be punished."

The court explained that it took into account the fact that A and others showed remorse and were first-time offenders.