LG, a company whose business philosophy is rooted in respect for people, faces accusations of gender discrimination in the workplace, potentially violating federal laws in the United States.
The complaint arises from a federal civil rights lawsuit filed in January 2022 by Jillian Soyoun Kim against LG Electronics USA and LG’s global logistics company, FNS.
The plaintiff’s attorney has accused LG of male executives berating, shouting at, and harassing the plaintiff, a Korean woman who serves as a branch manager. The attorney also pointed to gender discrimination deeply ingrained in Confucian Korean society.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, under Judge Franklin U. Valderrama, partially denied and partially granted LG’s motion to dismiss the case on September 15.
According to the complaint, Kim worked as a full-time branch manager at FNS in Bolingbrook, Illinois, from November 2018 through June 1, 2021. Kim’s complaint notes that “LG and FNC are ‘sister companies’ both belonging to the interconnected family-owned business under the LG brand.”
FNS is the North American branch of the former LX Pantos, overseeing the company’s logistics business in the United States.
The plaintiff’s attorney alleged that “Throughout her employment, she endured a hostile work environment characterized by berating, shouting, harassment, and undermining her job authority, all perpetrated by male Korean management. This treatment was not experienced by non-Korean women employees.”
As an example, Kim described a situation where she reported a building ventilation issue to Kyung Soo Ko of LG. Kim alleged that she included a human resources manager in the report, and Kyung Soo Ko berated her for raising the issue and involving the human resources manager.
Kim further claimed that Kyung Soo Ko intimidated her, discouraging her from raising the issue again. When she reported the incident to upper management, no action was taken against Kyung Soo Ko’s behavior.
Additionally, Kim alleged that her reports to supervisors were not followed up on, she sought psychological treatment due to the ongoing hostile work environment, was not paid during sick leave, and was denied bonuses and other benefits, unlike her male Korean counterparts.
The plaintiff’s attorney contended in the complaint that, “Because she is a Korean woman, the male Korean management expected Plaintiff to be subservient and docile, never questioning their management or behavior.” The attorney added, “This has been the system in Korea, Korean companies, Korean entities, and Korean culture for at least 600 years, which might be acceptable and legal in Korea but not in the United States.”
Kim filed a charge of employment discrimination based on sex and national origin against LG Electronics USA and FNS with the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR). The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued Kim a notice of the right to sue, leading to the lawsuit.
LG Electronics USA sought to dismiss the case, arguing that it was not a “joint employer” with FNS and did not violate Federal Rule of Civil Procedure. The court rejected LG’s request. However, the judge agreed with LG’s argument that discontinuing Kim’s medical insurance payments was not retaliatory.
The Korea Daily attempted to contact LG for comment on the case on October 10 but received no response as of October 20.
The plaintiff’s attorney alleged that “she was systematically denied the same terms and conditions of employment available to similarly situated Korean men.
BY YEOL JANG, JUNHAN PARK [jang.yeol@koreadaily.com]
