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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] TheBorn Korea has been referred to prosecutors on charges of violating labor laws after allegedly operating an online “employee blacklist.” According to materials obtained by Rep. Kim So-hee, the Seoul Gangnam District Office of the Ministry of Employment and Labor transferred the case to prosecutors on Oct. 24 with a recommendation for indictment.
The company is accused of posting content that hindered employment on a Naver café used by franchise owners of its Saemaeul Restaurant chain in May 2022. The Ministry launched an investigation in March after allegations surfaced that the café operated a blacklist board for workers.
TheBorn Korea claimed the board was created at franchisee request and was intended to share information about serious misconduct cases by certain employees. However, authorities concluded it constituted an illegal attempt to obstruct employment.
Under Korean labor law, creating or using records intended to block a worker’s employment is punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won.
The Ministry also identified five additional violations, including unpaid allowances and insufficient leave, issuing correction orders and fines. These violations have since been rectified.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
