Captain dismissed for drinking and squid fishing on board... Court says "Dismissal is excessive"

[Financial News] A court has ruled that the dismissal of a maritime police captain for reasons such as drinking and squid fishing during deployment was excessive.
According to the legal community on the 14th, the Seoul Administrative Court's 5th Division (Chief Judge Lee Jeong-won) ruled in favor of the plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by maritime police captain A against the Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard to cancel the dismissal.
The Korea Coast Guard cited several reasons for the dismissal of A, including △drinking multiple times on board during deployment △approving the purchase of alcohol with meal expenses and condoning its introduction △engaging in squid fishing multiple times during deployment △covering closed-circuit (CC) TV for squid fishing △receiving catches from Chinese fishing boats without taking action △practicing golf during deployment. A then requested a review from the Appeals Commission, but it was dismissed.
However, the court's judgment was different. While acknowledging that most of A's disciplinary reasons were valid, it pointed out that the decision exceeded discretionary authority.
The court stated, "The dismissal violates the principle of proportionality and is beyond the limits of discretion," adding, "The purpose of establishing public office discipline and eradicating drinking and fishing activities during duty by the Korea Coast Guard cannot be effectively secured solely by permanently depriving the plaintiff of his status as a maritime police officer. The public interest the defendant seeks to achieve cannot be considered superior to the direct disadvantage the plaintiff would suffer."
It also stated that △unhealthy recreational activities during deployment are not recognized as disciplinary reasons △if dismissed for embezzlement of public funds, retirement benefits are reduced, which is harsh compared to the misconduct, and thus the dismissal is excessive.

theknight@fnnews.com Jeong Kyung-su Reporter