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Hospital pledges apology and disciplinary action
The family of Kang Su-bin, a 27-year-old nurse who died after reporting workplace harassment, has reached a final agreement with the South Korean hospital where she worked, a health care workers union said. The settlement came 113 days after her death.
The agreement involved Kang’s family, the hospital in Gwangju, a city in Gyeonggi province, and a coalition of labor, religious, political and civic groups that supported the family.
The hospital plans to publish an apology in a newspaper early next month. It also agreed to impose serious disciplinary measures against three alleged perpetrators and a manager accused of failing to intervene, and to appoint an outside adviser to recommend changes to its workplace culture.
Compliance will be reviewed at meetings held twice a year, with two representatives recommended by the civic coalition participating.
Earlier complaint led to a reprimand
Kang joined the hospital in March 2023 and said she experienced “taeum,” a Korean term commonly used for bullying and hazing within the nursing profession. After leaving the hospital in March of last year, she reported the abuse to labor authorities.
Authorities recognized some of her allegations and ordered the hospital to take corrective action. The hospital, however, issued only a reprimand to the employee identified in the case.
Kang continued to struggle after leaving the hospital. She was found dead at her home after dying June 2.
Family and supporters seek accountability
The Korean Health and Medical Workers’ Union said it would continue monitoring the hospital until workplace harassment is eliminated and nurses have a safe working environment. The union also called on the government to treat taeum as a systemic issue requiring national action rather than a problem confined to individual workers or hospitals.
Kang’s family said those responsible should continue reflecting on how their actions devastated a person’s life.
After Kang’s funeral, her family held a Buddhist 49th-day memorial ceremony outside the hospital’s main entrance while calling for punishment of those involved. Supporters also staged one-person demonstrations. A dedicated police team’s investigation is reportedly nearing completion.
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