"[Exclusive] IKEA notifies executive-level employee returning from childcare leave of demotion to rank-and-file — 'Could you really get back to work quickly after being comfortable at home with your family?'", 9 July 2026

(...) According to Kyunghyang Shinmun's reporting on the 8th, the Anyang Regional Employment and Labour Office has been investigating Isabel Pucci, chief executive of IKEA Korea, since April over alleged violations of the Act on Equal Employment and Support for Work-Family Reconciliation.

The investigation followed a complaint alleging that Isabel Pucci treated an employee unfavourably after they returned from childcare leave.

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When the employee, referred to as A, protested the personnel action, Isabel Pucci reportedly asked, "Could you really get back to work quickly, like a washing machine, after being comfortable at home with your family?" (…) A claims that after refusing to accept the personnel decision to the end, she continued to face disadvantages, including being excluded from existing work reporting lines. According to A, the company said that unless A chose either a demotion or resignation within a set deadline, it would issue a temporary reassignment to a frontline store position.

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(...) Claims have also emerged that, ahead of union negotiations at IKEA Korea, she [Isabel Pucci] said "Korean unions are too easy [to handle] compared to Europe," and, while discussing business plans, said "Korean employees are stupid but hard to fire."

IKEA Korea said "there are many parts that differ from the facts overall, including [Isabel Pucci’s] remarks." Asked for its position on the labour ministry investigation, IKEA Korea said "we are unable to confirm matters relating to employees' personal information, internal documents or individual personnel matters," adding that "relevant procedures are being carried out in accordance with legal standards and internal policy."