In a landmark decision, South Korea has recognized a mental health claim from an airport worker as a legitimate workplace injury. The ruling marks significant progress in acknowledging the impact of mental health in the workplace. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – An employee at Muan International Airport has successfully had their mental health issues recognized as a work-related injury, the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service announced on October 4.
The employee, identified only as “A” for privacy reasons, worked in airport security and suffered from panic disorder and severe depression following incidents of workplace bullying.
The compensation service determined that A’s mental health conditions were directly related to their work experiences, marking a notable case in South Korea’s evolving approach to workplace mental health issues.
Evidence supporting A’s claim included audio recordings that clearly documented instances of verbal abuse and physical assault.
Additionally, a previous ruling by the South Jeolla Provincial Labor Relations Commission, which found that A had been unfairly transferred, contributed to the decision to classify the mental health issues as an occupational injury on September 26.
An official from the compensation service explained, “The causal relationship between A’s mental distress and their work duties was evident, leading to the recognition as an industrial accident.”
The official added that cases involving mental health often present unique challenges, requiring multiple procedural steps to gather objective evidence, and frequently face opposition from employers.
A’s ordeal began in January of the previous year when they experienced verbal and physical abuse from a senior official, identified as “B,” followed by an unjust personnel action. These experiences led to A suffering from severe depression and panic disorder for approximately 18 months.
As the mental anguish began to severely impact their daily life, A filed for workers’ compensation in May of this year.
The process of seeking recognition for mental health issues as work-related injuries in South Korea is complex, requiring workers to prove that their condition is recognized under the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act and that it directly resulted from their work duties.
For A, preparing the necessary documentation to support their claim led to additional trauma, effectively causing secondary victimization. The situation was further complicated by Muan Airport’s reported denial of any causal relationship between A’s condition and their work duties.
Reflecting on the experience, A shared, “Reviewing the audio recordings to provide evidence was extremely difficult, as it vividly brought back memories of the verbal abuse and assault.” They added, “Although I’m relieved to have my claim recognized, it’s not an experience I’d want to go through again.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
