Court Rules Workplace Death Not Applicable in Personal Conflict Case

In a recent ruling, the Seoul Administrative Court determined that a workplace death resulting from a personal conflict does not qualify as an occupational accident. The court's Administrative Division 3, presided over by Judge Choi Soo-jin, announced on July 13, 2025, that the family of the victim, referred to as A, lost their lawsuit against the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service regarding the denial of survivor benefits and funeral expenses.

A, who worked as an insurance planner, was fatally stabbed by B, a former romantic partner and colleague, while commuting to work in July 2023. Following the incident, A's family sought compensation from the welfare service, which denied the claim, stating that the incident stemmed from a personal relationship and was not a predictable accident during a typical commute. Disagreeing with this decision, A's family filed an administrative lawsuit.

The court rejected the family's claims, stating that the incident was driven by personal emotions, such as anger from a past relationship, rather than any professional conflict or animosity that could be linked to their work relationship. Therefore, the court concluded that A's death did not constitute a work-related accident.