“Why do you have an Adam’s apple?” Team leader grabbed female employee by the neck; she died after reporting workplace harassment

[Financial News] Prosecutors have sought a three-year prison sentence for a team leader in his 40s indicted in connection with the death of a female employee in her 20s who died by suicide after reporting workplace harassment.
According to News 1 on the 11th, the Suwon District Court’s Criminal Division 9 (single-judge panel, Judge Gu Na-young) held the final hearing the previous day for Defendant A, a man in his 40s indicted on charges of forcible molestation and assault.
Prosecutors requested a three-year prison sentence, along with completion of a sexual violence treatment program, the disclosure and notification of personal information, and a five-year employment restriction.
Prosecutors stated, “The defendant exploited his superior position as a workplace supervisor to commit offenses against the victim, who was at the beginning of her career,” adding, “The victim suffered considerable psychological distress from workplace harassment before taking her own life.”
In his final statement, Defendant A reportedly denied the charges, saying, “I never acted with the intention of harassing her.”
Defendant A was previously indicted on charges of forcibly molesting Victim B, who was in her 20s at the time and had just joined a semiconductor parts company in Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province. Around May 2024, while working as the company’s team leader, he allegedly said to her, “Why do you have an Adam’s apple?” before lifting her by the neck and grabbing the back of her neck. He also faces an assault charge for allegedly striking the back of Victim B’s knee with his own knee.
Victim B reported Defendant A to the labor authorities for workplace harassment and filed civil and criminal complaints. However, only some of the reported conduct was recognized as harassment, and measures to separate the two at work were not fully implemented. Victim B died by suicide in December of the same year.
The sentencing hearing for Defendant A will be held on the first of next month.※ If you are experiencing depression or other concerns that are difficult to discuss, or if you know a family member or acquaintance facing such difficulties, you can receive professional counseling 24 hours a day by calling the Suicide Prevention Hotline 109.[email protected] Minseo Seong Reporter