36 complaints filed against Gunsan Agricultural Cooperative from 2022 through August this year, accounting for 15.5% of all cases nationwide; 11 workplace harassment reports filed; lawmaker vows to hold management accountable at national audit

The headquarters of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation [National Agricultural Cooperative Federation]
The headquarters of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation [National Agricultural Cooperative Federation]

Seven out of every 10 labor law violation cases at agricultural cooperatives nationwide that were referred to prosecutors originated from a single branch — the Gunsan Agricultural Cooperative — according to data released Wednesday. Of the 36 complaints filed against the Gunsan cooperative, 18, or exactly half, were forwarded to prosecutors.

The figures come from a report on labor law violation complaints filed against central and regional agricultural cooperatives since 2022, which the Ministry of Employment and Labor submitted to Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Hae-cheol of the National Assembly's Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee. The data show that a total of 232 cases were received at cooperatives nationwide, including Hanaro Mart outlets, between January 2022 and August this year.

Of those, 36 cases — or 15.5% of the total — were filed against the Gunsan cooperative. Broken down by year, the complaints numbered one in 2022, 14 in 2023, six in 2024, 10 in 2025, and five through August this year. Complaints have been filed every year since 2023.

The concentration was even more pronounced when it came to prosecutorial referrals. Of the 26 cases nationwide that were referred to prosecutors and closed during the same period, 18 involved the Gunsan cooperative — meaning 69.2% of all such referrals across the country stemmed from a single workplace.

Of the 36 Gunsan cooperative cases, 18 were referred to prosecutors and closed, 14 were closed administratively, and four remain under review. A prosecutorial referral closure means the Ministry of Employment and Labor forwarded the case to prosecutors and concluded its own investigative process — it does not indicate an indictment or a court conviction.

The complaints covered a range of alleged violations, including unfair personnel actions, unfair disciplinary measures, workplace harassment, unfair labor practices, unpaid wages and overtime violations. Workplace harassment accounted for 11 of the 36 cases.

According to Park's office, most of the referred cases were initiated through complaints or accusations filed by labor unions. Cases involving alleged interference with union membership and activities, unpaid wages and overtime violations were among those forwarded to prosecutors.

"Out of hundreds of cooperative workplaces across the country, more than 15 percent of all violations poured out of a single location, and half of those were sent to prosecutors," Park said, noting management's responsibility. He added that summoning the head of the Gunsan cooperative as a witness at the national audit "is an inevitable step to root out this illegal suppression of labor," and pledged that the National Assembly would pursue a thorough investigation and hold those responsible strictly accountable.


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