KPGA Isolates Reinstated Workers After Unfair Dismissal... Sparks 'Secondary Victimization' Controversy

Union: "Effectively a Retaliatory Exclusion from Work"
KPGA: "A Temporary Measure Due to Space Constraints"

The labor union of the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) has claimed that KPGA is retaliating against two reinstated employees—who were previously found to have been unfairly dismissed—by placing them in isolation.

On April 7, the union stated, "Two out of three reinstated employees have been assigned to a separate space on the second floor of the KPGA building, not the regular office on the ninth floor, but rather a vacant area set aside within the same building," and described this as "effectively a retaliatory act of isolation." The union further criticized the measure, saying, "This is no different from not carrying out the reinstatement, constitutes additional unfair treatment, and could be seen as a second round of victimization." The union also pointed out, "Another reinstated employee has in fact been excluded from work, as they have not been assigned any normal work duties."

This is a scene of KPGA reinstated employees placed in a separate space within the KPGA building. Provided by KPGA Labor Union

KPGA explained, "Currently, the ninth-floor office is extremely cramped due to the placement of existing staff," and said the action was "an unavoidable temporary measure caused by practical space constraints." KPGA further stated, "With regard to work, we are giving the reinstated employees normal work assignments," but added, "Since all departmental work assignments were already completed in preparation for the season, we are carefully considering the best possible work arrangements for some of the reinstated employees."

The issue of unfair dismissal at KPGA originated from workplace bullying by a former senior executive, who was a former professional player, referred to as 'A.' In December 2024, A verbally threatened employee B, made personal attacks involving family members, coerced B into writing a memorandum, pressured B to resign, and encouraged B to leave the union—conduct that amounted to workplace bullying. In the first criminal trial held in December of last year, A was sentenced to eight months in prison.

KPGA delayed disciplinary action against A and instead imposed mass disciplinary measures on the victimized employees, escalating the controversy. In September of last year, the union filed a complaint with the Gyeonggi Regional Labor Relations Commission for remedy against unfair dismissal, and the commission ruled that all dismissed employees had been unfairly terminated. The union stated, "We proposed a separate written agreement to the association that would guarantee 'substantial reinstatement'—with no future re-discipline or retaliatory action—as a precondition for tour preparations and organizational development, but the association president refused this proposal." The union added, "Both labor and management are currently undergoing an appeals process with the Central Labor Relations Commission."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.