Ruling Cites Cumulative Alcohol Consumption During Three Consecutive Work-Related Gatherings

A court recognized an industrial accident in the case of a company employee who died of acute alcohol poisoning after three consecutive days of company dinners.

Seoul Administrative Court's Administrative Division 3 (Presiding Judge Choi Soo-jin) announced on the 21st that it ruled in favor of the plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by the spouse of Mr. A, a former Samsung Electronics employee, against the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service. The lawsuit sought to overturn the agency's refusal to provide survivor benefits and funeral expenses.

Mr. A, who managed Mexico sales operations at Samsung Electronics' wireless business division, was found dead in his home parking lot on July 2, 2022. The cause of death was acute alcohol poisoning.

An investigation revealed he had consumed alcohol at company dinners for three consecutive days until the day before his death. Mr. A's spouse claimed the death was an occupational injury and requested benefits from the agency. However, the agency rejected the claim, stating, "Mr. A's death is difficult to classify as an occupational disease, and the causal relationship between the dinners and his work is not clear." The spouse subsequently filed the lawsuit.

The key issue was whether the dinners were work-related. At the June 29 dinner, attendees consumed 2-3 glasses of wine per person. On June 30, 36 people shared 34 bottles of soju and 46 bottles of beer. Both events involved business-related attendees, and costs were covered by company funds.

On July 1, the day before his death, Mr. A drank with five colleagues and local Mexican staff. The cost was split using his personal card and the locals' cards. A medical opinion indicated this final gathering most directly contributed to his death. While the spouse argued it was a work-related event, the agency claimed it was a private gathering since Mr. A paid part of the cost.

The court sided with the spouse. It stated, "The fact that Mr. A covered part of the meal cost on the day before his death does not necessarily negate the work-related nature of the gathering."

The court noted that Mr. A required close collaboration with Mexican locals and was scheduled for a six-month business trip to Mexico in August, necessitating local support. It concluded, "Given the nature of a welcome event for the upcoming trip, it would have been difficult for him to refuse alcohol." The court also deemed the 1 million won meal cost too substantial to be considered a simple social gathering.

Additionally, the court acknowledged the cumulative effect of alcohol from consecutive days of drinking. It stated, "Alcohol from the prior two days likely had not fully metabolized before the final drinking session, leading to a higher blood alcohol concentration." The court ruled that the dinners collectively contributed to Mr. A's death.

Court Recognizes Industrial Accident in Death After Company Dinners