In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of South Korea has declared that workers cannot be penalised for obstructing CCTV cameras installed by companies to monitor work without obtaining employee consent.

The case, made public on 19 July, concerned three trade union officials at an automobile factory in Gunsan, who were charged with obstructing business after they covered 51 CCTV cameras with black plastic bags. The company claimed the CCTV cameras were installed to enhance security and prevent theft and fires.