A Japanese part-time worker at a Korean buffet in Seoul has come forward saying the owner’s wife repeatedly verbally abused and mistreated her, and that she was dismissed without warning.
According to JTBC’s “Sagunbanjang” on the 28th, a Japanese woman identified as A began working at the Seoul buffet in December last year. A told the program she has lived in Korea for about ten years but that this episode caused the deepest pain she has experienced.
A said she greeted customers with phrases like “Welcome” and “Enjoy your meal,” but alleged the owner’s wife repeatedly rebuked her, saying, “I don’t like your voice,” and “Stop talking—do your work.”
When A asked to use the restroom during a shift, she says the owner’s wife responded, “I can’t take it anymore. I hate you,” used profane language and at times yelled at her.
Although the owner sometimes intervened, A says the wife continued the verbal abuse for more than two months and refused to relent.
At the end of last month, the wife reportedly called A a 돌대가리 — a crude Korean insult roughly meaning “blockhead.” A said she did not know the term and asked the owner about it, which only worsened the atmosphere.
Afterward, A says the wife told her, “If you don’t like it, leave” and “My goal is to get you out.”
A also said the restaurant suggested it would deduct meal and restroom breaks from her wages.
Ultimately, after being told to leave earlier than her scheduled time, A received a message from the owner saying, “It seems cultural and language differences caused conflict. I hope you do better elsewhere” — a message she interpreted as a dismissal.
A reported the alleged workplace harassment to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, but was told the restaurant employs fewer than five people, making it difficult to apply the relevant protections. Officials advised she could pursue civil litigation for redress, but she said the practical and financial burden would be high.
Since her dismissal, A has struggled to find work and says the wife’s criticism has left her afraid to speak Korean.
The restaurant responded that communication had broken down and that A frequently clashed with the owner’s wife because she sought to avoid difficult tasks. They said their instructions were meant to ensure appropriate greetings for customers and to request that employees avoid using the restroom during peak periods.
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