In a landmark decision, the Seoul Administrative Court has ruled that the death of a South Korean man due to acute alcohol poisoning following three consecutive company-related dinners qualifies as a work-related injury.
According to reports by The Korea Herald and cited by The Paper, the man, who worked in sales management, was found dead in his car in the parking lot of his home on July 2, 2022. An autopsy confirmed he died from acute alcohol poisoning after consuming large amounts of alcohol over a short period.
Investigations revealed he had attended work-related dinners on June 29, June 30, and July 1. On the first night, he dined with clients; the second evening involved a team gathering organized by senior management to strengthen team cohesion; and on the third night, he attended a welcome dinner for two newly posted foreign colleagues. That final dinner exceeded ₩1 million (approximately RM3,058) in cost, with the bill split among attendees.
The key legal question centered on whether the third night’s dinner could be classified as a work-related event. The man’s family had challenged the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service’s (KCOMWEL) initial decision to deny survivor benefits and funeral expenses, arguing that the event was connected to his job.
KCOMWEL contended the last dinner was a personal social gathering, especially since it was self-funded and exceeded typical company spending.
However, the court disagreed, noting that the gathering was clearly tied to work, given the man was about to begin a six-month overseas assignment and the dinner was with colleagues supporting his transition. The court concluded that refusing to drink under such professional circumstances would have been difficult and the high cost suggested it was more than just a casual meet-up.
“This drinking event was closely linked to his upcoming overseas duties,” the court said. “Given the context, the deceased would have found it hard to decline participation or alcohol consumption. The high cost of the dinner also goes beyond typical private gatherings.”
As a result, the court overturned KCOMWEL’s decision, ruling that the man’s death qualifies as a workplace injury, and his family is entitled to compensation.
The case highlights the ongoing debate in South Korea over work culture, including the blurred lines between overtime, social obligations, and employer responsibility in cases of overwork-related deaths.
