Seoul: The unification ministry on Thursday dismissed the head of the Korea Hana Foundation, a public institution supporting North Korean defectors, over allegations he sexually and verbally harassed employees, according to officials.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the dismissal of Cho Min-ho as the foundation's president follows the reception in December of an employee's report about his sexual harassment. Since then, the ministry has conducted an investigation and other procedural steps leading to his removal. The foundation operates under the oversight of the ministry.
The ministry's review of the case revealed that Cho reportedly made inappropriate comments to a female employee returning from child care leave, suggesting that women in the past gave birth while working in the fields. He also likened a caesarean section to "unboxing" while addressing a returnee from maternity leave.
Additionally, Cho reportedly criticized a female employee for wearing shorts and derogatorily referred to a North Korean defector-turned-employee as a cockroach. In response to these incidents, a ministry official stated that the ministry will enhance supervision to prevent similar occurrences in the future.