Gangnam Dental Clinic Faces Potential Fine After Demanding ₩1.8 Million From Departing Employee
seoul, South Korea - A dental clinic in Gangnam is under scrutiny after allegedly demanding ₩1.8 million (approximately $1,350 USD) in compensation from a recently resigned employee who left her position after only two days.The case highlights a recurring issue of illegal contractual clauses used by employers to penalize workers for leaving thier jobs or for minor infractions like tardiness,despite explicit prohibitions under South Korean labour law.
The incident underscores a widespread lack of awareness among workers regarding their rights, enabling employers to exploit loopholes and impose unlawful financial penalties.According to the Labor standards Act, clauses seeking compensation for failing to comply wiht a resignation notice or deducting wages for issues like tardiness are invalid and can result in fines of up to ₩5 million (approximately $3,750 USD) for employers. Despite this,similar cases continue to surface,leaving employees vulnerable to financial exploitation.
The former employee, whose name has not been publicly released, reportedly signed an employment contract containing a clause requiring financial compensation should she leave before a specified period. After tendering her resignation just two days into the job, the clinic allegedly demanded ₩1.8 million to cover training costs and lost profits.
Labor attorney Ha Eun-seong of Saetbyul Labor Attorneys Office stated, “This is a case of abuse targeting the fact that it is indeed challenging for ordinary workers to know that these regulations are illegal.” He emphasized, “forcing people to pay a pre-steadfast amount of damages is a violation of the Labor Standards Act.”
Park seong-woo, a labor attorney at Workplace Gapjil 119, further warned that “the act of forcing workers to sign prior compensation agreements is itself a crime.” He called for increased oversight and guidance from the Labor Office to prevent such abuses.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor has not yet commented on this specific case but is expected to investigate following increased public attention. Legal experts advise any employee facing similar demands to seek counsel from a labor attorney and report the incident to the Labor Office.