[Digital Today reporter Ho-jung Lee] The Naver branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' Korean Federation of Chemical, Textile and Food Industries Trade Unions, known as Joint Statement, held a picket and handed out leaflets outside the venue for Naver's annual shareholders meeting on March 23.

Joint Statement has repeatedly raised the issue since an executive named as responsible in a workplace bullying case returned to work in May last year. It said the matter goes beyond a personnel issue and is a case of a governance crisis that damages Naver's decision-making structure and accountability.

It said the purpose of the campaign is to communicate directly with shareholders, an important pillar of Naver, and share awareness of the issue.

In leaflets to shareholders, Joint Statement said a former chief operating officer (COO) named as responsible in a 2021 workplace bullying death returned without a public apology or steps to prevent a recurrence. It also said the board arranged a forum for explanations during the return process and the company supported it. It said the return happened without disclosed procedural standards despite opposition from 99 percent of members.

It said these facts are undermining Naver's governance structure and could directly lead to a decline in corporate value. It added that falling trust in management would hurt organisational commitment and innovation, negatively affecting corporate sustainability and shareholder value.

A Joint Statement official said, "This issue is not just a problem for members, but a matter of corporate transparency and accountability." The official added, "We hope shareholders will take interest as key stakeholders in restoring governance."

Joint Statement said it plans to continue actions to call for governance improvements, starting with its on-site action at the shareholders meeting.