Namyang Dairy’s controversy continues even after the controversy over exaggerating the effect of the dairy product Bulgaris to the agency’s Gapjil, and the recent overthrow of the sale. This time, allegations were raised that Chairman Hong Won-sik intervened in unfair personnel management. We also secured a transcript directly instructing us to put pressure on him so that he couldn’t stand it.
Exclusive report, reporter Han Ji-yeon.
Mr. Choi joined Namyang Dairy as an advertising team in 2002.
She was recognized enough to be the youngest female team leader after 6 years of joining the company.
Choi gave birth to her first child at the age of forty-two and took parental leave in 2015.
Choi claims that the company dismissed him without notice.
When he returned to work a year later, Mr. Choi’s desk was placed between the delivery room and the bathroom, and he said that he was given a simple task.
[최 모 씨/남양유업 부당인사 피해자 : 거의 무슨 동물원에 원숭이처럼 이렇게….황당한 거죠. (일도) 자질구레하지만 방대한 일을 주는 거예요. 굉장히 모멸감을 많이 느꼈고….]
When Mr. Choi filed an application for remedy for unfair personnel appointments with the Labor Relations Commission in 2017, the company dispatched him to the logistics center in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, and within a year after that, he was assigned to a warehouse in Cheonan, where commuting to work takes 5 hours.
[최 모 씨/남양유업 부당인사 피해자 : 서울-천안이면 교통편도 없거든요. 너 얼마나 견디나 보자 응? 네가 이렇게까지 하면서 다닐래? 응? 그런 거죠. 그래도 진짜 포기를 안 하고. 그때 다시 그냥 법에 호소를 한 거죠. 부당전보로.]
Namyang Dairy explained that the appointment was justified because it was necessary for work, there was no disadvantage in life, and went through the consultation process.
However, the recording obtained by SBS reveals a circumstance where Namyang Dairy Chairman Hong Won-sik directs another employee to put pressure on Choi through another employee.
[홍원식/남양유업 회장 : 빡세게 일을 시키라고, 눈에 보이지 않는 아주 강한 압박을 해서 지금 못 견디게 해.]
Let’s say Mr. Choi is showing signs of hardship,
[홍원식/남양유업 회장 : 근데 그걸 활용을 하라고.. 어려운 일을 해 가지고 말이야 보람도 못 느끼고 하여튼 그런 게 되게.]
Chairman Hong Won-sik gives these instructions, but emphasizes avoiding the ‘network of law’.
[홍원식/남양유업 회장 : 위법은 하는 건 아니지만 좀 한계 선상을 걸으라 그 얘기야. 그런 게. 그게 무슨 문제가 되겠어.]
Choi won an administrative lawsuit against the company, but lost in the appeals court and is currently awaiting a Supreme Court ruling.
[최 모 씨/남양유업 부당인사 피해자 : 열심히 일하면 여성 임원이 될 수 있다. 진짜 휴일까지 반납하고 일을 했는데…. 여자는 한 번 써먹고 버리는 그런…. 그런 위치가 돼야 되냐.]
After the so-called ‘Bulgaris crisis’, Chairman Hong Won-sik overturned his promise to sell and still maintained his position, and his two sons, including the eldest son, who resigned over suspicion of misappropriation of company money, were secretly reinstated or promoted to executive positions.
(Video coverage: Yang Hyun-chul, video editing: Won-hee Won, VJ: Park Hyun-woo)
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