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Former KAI CEO Kang Gu-young. (Photo: Yonhap News) |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] The Jinju branch of the Busan Regional Employment and Labor Office recently summoned former Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) CEO Kang Gu-young and Acting CEO Cha Jae-byung for questioning as respondents in a workplace harassment investigation, The Fact reported exclusively.
The probe appears to have been triggered by disciplinary actions against employees following the suspension of KAI’s “Smart Platform” project. The initiative, launched under the previous Moon Jae-in administration, was reportedly halted when Kang, affiliated with the Yoon Seok-yeol campaign, assumed the CEO role, leading to the cancellation of ongoing work.
Employees involved in the project received indefinite suspension measures, prompting controversy. KAI subsequently filed criminal complaints against current and former staff and the company Sysnova, which collaborated on the project, and issued formal claims seeking KRW 37.9 billion in damages against the employees.
The affected employees successfully challenged the disciplinary actions through the Gyeongnam Regional Labor Relations Commission and the Central Labor Relations Commission, which ordered their reinstatement. However, they claim that even after these rulings, they continued to face targeted audits, unwarranted reassignment, and personnel committee hearings based on false information.
The employees filed complaints with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, arguing that these actions constitute violations of Korea’s Workplace Harassment Prevention regulations under the Labor Standards Act.
Former CEO Kang resigned in June of last year, and Cha Jae-byung, currently head of the Fixed-Wing Business Division, is serving as acting CEO.
Alphabiz 이준현 기자(wtcloud83@alphabiz.co.kr)
