Gwangsan District in Gwangju Sets Firm Ban on Eight Major Acts of Workplace Power Abuse

From Unfair Work Orders to Forced Drinking, Specific Acts Defined
Includes Procedures for Prevention, Investigation, and Victim Protection
"Building an Organizational Culture Based on Respect and Trust"

Unfair work orders, verbal abuse, forced participation in company dinners and drinking sessions, and even hints at personnel disadvantages.

Gwangsan District in Gwangju has implemented a set of response guidelines that specifically define workplace power abuse acts, and has launched a practical campaign targeting all employees.

On June 18, Gwangsan District announced that it held an integrity campaign in the first-floor lobby of the district office, sharing the core contents of the “Guidelines for Preventing and Responding to Workplace Power Abuse” with all employees. Prior to this, the district had issued the guidelines on June 12.

Park Byungkyu, Mayor of Gwangsan District, on the 18th, at the campaign held in the lobby on the 1st floor of the district office to create a workplace culture free from abuse of power, handed out integrity promotional materials to employees, encouraging the practice of the 8 major prohibited abusive behaviors and the spread of a culture of mutual respect. [Photo by Gwangsan District]

On this day, Park Byungkyu, Mayor of Gwangsan District, distributed integrity-related items to employees and emphasized the importance of mutual respect and practicing integrity.

The new guidelines were established to prevent workplace power abuse and create a safe working environment. They specifically define unfair acts that may occur within the organization and outline procedures for prevention, investigation, victim protection, and post-incident management.

The guidelines include eight prohibited acts of power abuse: unfair work orders using position or authority, verbal abuse or insults that infringe on personal rights, orders for private gain, shifting responsibility without just cause, intentional exclusion within the organization, hinting at disadvantages related to personnel or evaluations, and coercing participation in non-work-related events, company dinners, or drinking sessions.

Starting with this campaign, Gwangsan District plans to make power abuse prevention training mandatory for all public officials at the middle management level and above, and to fully operate prevention and post-management systems such as regular surveys, prompt separation of victims, and prohibition of disclosing victim identities, as outlined in the guidelines. Each neighborhood office will also run a campaign within June to create a corruption-free and abuse-free workplace.

Mayor Park stated, “A healthy organizational culture begins with respect and trust among members. I will ensure that these guidelines lead to everyday practice by all employees, making our organization one in which unfair orders and authoritarian culture have no place.”

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