Summary of "끊이지 않는 간호사 ‘태움’…“70%가 대응 포기” / KBS 2025.10.14."

Overview

KBS reports that the workplace bullying practice known as “taeum”—harassment by senior nurses that can drive victims to extreme harm, including suicide—is still ongoing despite changes in the legal and regulatory environment.

The video notes that while the Nursing Act was enacted last year to prevent such abuse, evidence suggests the broader workplace culture persists, and many victims still choose not to report incidents.

Highlighted Case

The report features a case involving a first-year nurse at a large hospital who is repeatedly subjected to:

Verbal abuse and criticism for minor mistakes
Physical assault by a senior colleague

KBS also states that colleagues who experience or witness bullying often suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts. The report describes “taeum” as harassment so severe it can “burn the soul.”

Survey Findings (Ocean Nurses Association)

The coverage cites data from a survey by the Ocean Nurses Association, reporting that:

More than half of nurses experience ongoing “workplace human rights” harms
Over 30% report habitual harassment occurring more than ten times in the previous year

Common forms of harm include:

Violence
Abuse of power

Sexual harassment/sexual violence accounts for 13% of reported harms. Additionally, since 2018, there have been multiple documented cases of nurses dying after harassment.

Why Reporting Remains Low

The report explains that reporting rates stay low because:

Approximately 7 out of 10 victims stop responding
Key reasons include:
- Fear of retaliation
- Fear that their identities will be exposed

It also describes a system in which complaints are quickly escalated to nursing department leadership, which may increase the likelihood of victims being targeted.

The report additionally points to worsening conditions caused by:

Chronic understaffing
Increased workload stress
Greater safety risks for patients

Calls for Action

KBS argues that improvements to the nursing work environment are urgently needed and that the healthcare workforce support center should provide practical assistance.

The report also reiterates that the Nursing Act: