An employee at a Saemaul Geumgo in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, was confirmed to have been fired on the 27th after objecting to an internal 'recording restriction regulation' that is reportedly illegal under current law. This regulation, implemented last October, limits employees from recording conversations without explicit consent from other parties and threatens disciplinary action for violations. Many experts argue that the regulation contradicts existing communications privacy laws, particularly in situations where employees may need to gather evidence in cases of workplace harassment.

The Saemaul Geumgo’s actions have drawn fire, particularly following previous allegations against its chairman regarding workplace harassment, leading to investigations by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, as well as civil and criminal lawsuits from employees. This context suggests that the employee, referred to as Mr. G, raised concerns about the regulation specifically in response to the chairman's attempts to shield himself from accountability. However, the management contends that Mr. G's writings led to media coverage of their internal policies, prompting his dismissal during a disciplinary meeting.

Interestingly, Mr. G was on medical leave for a workplace injury at the time of his firing, which complicates the legality of the dismissal under labor standards law that prohibits termination during such leave. The company initially brought him back on a structured leave of absence before proceeding with the dismissal. Experts indicate that without centralized oversight from the national association, each Saemaul Geumgo operates independently, which may allow for questionable managerial practices without accountability or oversight, raising concerns over the protection of employee rights.