Workbear재주넘는곰
대법원 95누12347

Revocation of Reexamination Ruling on Unfair Dismissal Remedy (부당해고구제재심판정취소)부당해고구제재심판정취소

Decided1995. 12. 05. Court대법원Case dismissed (procedural dismissal, 각하) — the worker's lawsuit was rejected without a ruling on the merits due to lack of legal interest in continuing the suit
AI-generated English translation (summary, key points, decision summary and full text) for reference only — not an official translation and without legal effect. The Korean original below is authoritative.
AI Easy read — AI summary of this decision
AI-generated summary for reference only — the Korean original below is authoritative.

An employee who worked as Secretary-General won a favorable ruling from the National Labor Relations Commission (중앙노동위원회) after being unfairly dismissed (부당해고). However, during the litigation, the term of office for the appointing authority expired, resulting in the employee's automatic retirement (당연퇴직) and making reinstatement impossible. The Supreme Court ruled that once reinstatement becomes objectively impossible, the lawsuit could not proceed merely for the purpose of restoring honor or claiming back wages, as this did not constitute a legally protected interest.

Key takeaways
  • Case사건: 사무총장이 부당해고로 중앙노동위원회에서 승소했으나, 소송 중 임용권자 임기만료로 당연퇴직하여 복직이 불가능해짐
  • Outcome결과: 법원은 구제명령의 실현이 객관적으로 불가능한 경우 명예회복이나 임금청구 목적만으로는 소의 이익이 없다며 각하
  • Lesson교훈: 부당해고 구제신청 시 임용기간이나 계약기간 등을 고려하여 실질적 복직 가능성을 미리 검토해야 함
Issues
  • Whether a legal interest in litigation (소의 이익) exists when realization of a remedy order for unfair dismissal has become objectively impossible
  • Whether a legal interest in litigation exists when reinstatement is impossible due to automatic retirement (당연퇴직)
  • Whether seeking restoration of honor or wage claims alone is sufficient to establish a legal interest in litigation
Key reasoning

The Supreme Court held that even if a remedy order (구제명령) for unfair dismissal is obtained, there is no legal interest in pursuing the lawsuit if the order's realization—namely, reinstatement—has become objectively impossible. The Court reasoned that when an employee's position was already terminated due to automatic retirement from expiration of the appointing authority's term, reinstatement could no longer be achieved regardless of the outcome. Further, the Court clarified that seeking to restore one's honor or to claim unpaid wages, without the possibility of actual reinstatement, amounts to nothing more than a practical or factual interest (사실상 이익), not a legally recognized interest (법률상 이익) sufficient to sustain the lawsuit. Therefore, the case was dismissed for lack of standing to sue (소의 이익 없음).

Summary of Decision (English, AI translation)

[1] Even if a remedial order is obtained pursuant to an application for remedy against unfair dismissal, if its realization is objectively impossible, there is no interest in seeking revocation of a ruling by the National Labor Relations Commission (중앙노동위원회), unless there exist special circumstances such as a statutory provision restricting the opportunity for reemployment.

[2] A case holding that, in a lawsuit seeking revocation of a reexamination ruling on unfair dismissal, where an employee has come to be retired as a matter of course due to the expiration of the term of office of the appointing authority, and where there is no impediment to the employee being elected as an officer, delegate, etc., even if the reexamination ruling were revoked and a remedial order obtained, it would be impossible for the employee to return to his position as Secretary-General of the association where he had worked, or to recover the status necessary to perform the duties of Secretary-General; therefore, the lawsuit seeking revocation of the reexamination ruling lacks the interest in bringing suit.

[3] If the reason for seeking revocation of the reexamination ruling is merely to restore the social reputation damaged by the reexamination ruling, this constitutes only a de facto interest; and where it is clear that the Labor Relations Commission did not issue any order directing payment of wages to the employee, since the employee, once it has become impossible to recover his status as an employee, may seek relief with respect to the wage portion by filing a civil lawsuit such as a wage claim suit and asserting, as a premise thereof, that the dismissal is void, grounds such as seeking to restore one's reputation or to receive payment of wages cannot be deemed to constitute a legal interest in seeking revocation of the reexamination ruling.

Full text (English, AI translation) 4,405 chars

[Plaintiff, Appellant] Plaintiff
[Defendant, Appellee] Chairman of the National Labor Relations Commission (중앙노동위원회위원장)
[Defendant's Assistant Intervenor] Defendant's Assistant Intervenor Association
[Judgment Below] Seoul High Court Decision 94Gu31404 delivered on July 20, 1995

[Order]

The appeal is dismissed. The costs of the appeal are to be borne by the Plaintiff.

[Reasoning]

The Plaintiff's grounds of appeal are examined.

1. Even if a remedial order is obtained pursuant to an application for remedy against unfair dismissal, if its realization is objectively impossible, then, absent special circumstances such as a provision in laws and regulations restricting the opportunity for reemployment, there is no benefit of bringing an action to seek revocation of the National Labor Relations Commission's ruling (see this Court's Decisions 90Nu5313 delivered on May 28, 1991; 91Da1134 delivered on June 25, 1991; 94Nu3209 delivered on April 7, 1995; 94Da4011 delivered on April 11, 1995, etc.).

According to the facts as established by the court below, the Plaintiff, who had been working as the Secretary-General of the Defendant's Assistant Intervenor Association (hereinafter referred to as the "Intervenor"), came to be automatically retired pursuant to Article 29, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 5 of the Personnel Regulations on April 6, 1995, before the conclusion of oral argument in the court below and after the reexamination ruling, as a result of the expiration of the term of office of Nonparty, the Chairman of the Intervenor who was the appointing authority. Meanwhile, although the Intervenor's Officer Election Regulations and Delegate Election Regulations, etc., provide that a person who has received a disciplinary sanction and for whom a certain period has not yet elapsed shall not have the right to be elected, it is clear that the Plaintiff was not subjected to disciplinary sanction but was dismissed by exercise of official authority, and therefore there is no impediment to the Plaintiff being elected as an officer, delegate, etc. Given these circumstances, even if the reexamination ruling were revoked and a remedial order obtained, it would be impossible for the Plaintiff to return to the position of Secretary-General of the Intervenor or to recover a status enabling him to perform the duties of Secretary-General. Therefore, this lawsuit seeking revocation of the reexamination ruling lacks the benefit of bringing an action.

The judgment below, which held to the same effect that this lawsuit is unlawful, is justified, and it cannot be said that there was any error of law such as misapprehension of legal principles or omission of judgment as alleged in the grounds of appeal. This ground of appeal is without merit.

2. If the reason for seeking revocation of the reexamination ruling is merely to restore social reputation damaged by the reexamination ruling, this constitutes nothing more than a de facto interest (see this Court's Decisions 92Da20149 delivered on March 15, 1993; 94Da4011 delivered on April 11, 1995, etc.). Furthermore, in this case, where it is clear from the record that the Labor Relations Commission did not issue any order for payment of wages to the Plaintiff, since, as discussed above, it has become impossible for the Plaintiff to recover his status as an employee of the Intervenor, the Plaintiff may seek relief with respect to the wage portion by filing a civil action such as a wage claim lawsuit and asserting, as a premise thereof, that the dismissal is void (see this Court's Decisions 90Nu9346 delivered on June 28, 1991; 91Nu5747 delivered on January 15, 1993, etc.). Therefore, grounds such as restoration of reputation or receipt of wage payment cannot be deemed to constitute a legal interest in seeking revocation of the reexamination ruling.

The judgment below, which held to the same effect, is justified, and it cannot be said that there was any error of law such as misapprehension of legal principles or omission of judgment as alleged in the grounds of appeal. This ground of appeal is without merit.

3. Therefore, the appeal is dismissed, and the costs of the appeal are to be borne by the losing party. This Judgment is rendered as stated in the Order by the unanimous opinion of the participating Justices.

Justice Shin Seong-taek (Presiding Justice), Cheon Gyeong-song, Ji Chang-gwon (Justice in charge)

【판결요지】

[1] 부당해고구제신청에 따른 구제명령을 얻는다고 하더라도 객관적으로 보아 그 실현이 불가능한 경우에는 법령 등에서 재취업의 기회를 제한하는 규정을 두고 있는 등의 특별한 사정이 없는 한 중앙노동위원회 판정의 취소를 구할 소의 이익은 없다.

[2] 부당해고구제재심판정취소 소송 중 근로자가 임용권자의 임기 만료에 따라 당연퇴직하게 된 것이고, 한편 임원, 대의원 등으로 선출되는 데 아무런 장애가 없다면, 그 근로자로서는 재심판정이 취소되어 구제명령을 얻는다고 하더라도 근무하던 협회의 사무총장으로서 복귀하거나 사무총장의 직무를 수행할 지위를 회복하는 것이 불가능하게 되었다고 할 것이므로, 재심판정의 취소를 구하는 소는 소의 이익이 없다고 한 사례.

[3] 재심판정의 취소를 구하는 이유가 단순히 재심판정으로 입은 사회적인 명예의 손상을 회복하기 위한 것이라면 이는 사실상의 이익에 불과한 것이고, 노동위원회에서 근로자에 대하여 임금의 지급명령을 한 바 없음이 명백한 경우, 그 근로자는 직원으로서의 지위 회복이 불가능하게 된 이상 임금 부분에 대하여 임금청구소송 등 민사소송을 제기하여 그 전제로서 면직이 무효임을 주장하여 구제받을 수 있는 것이므로, 명예회복을 위한 것이라거나 임금을 지급받기 위한 것이라는 등의 사유는 재심판정의 취소를 구할 법률상 이익에 해당된다고 볼 수 없다.

【참조조문】

[1] 근로기준법 제27조의3, 행정소송법 제12조

[2] 근로기준법 제27조의3, 행정소송법 제12조

[3] 근로기준법 제27조의3, 행정소송법 제12조

【참조판례】

[1][3] 대법원 1995. 4. 11. 선고 94다4011 판결(공1995상, 1826) / [1] 대법원 1991. 5. 28. 선고 90누5313판결(공1991, 1784), 대법원 1991. 6. 25. 선고 91다1134 판결(공1991, 2003), 대법원 1995. 4. 7. 선고 94누3209 판결(공1995상, 1871) / [3] 대법원 1991. 6. 28. 선고 90누9346 판결(공1991, 2056), 대법원 1993. 3. 15. 선고 91누5747 판결(공1993상, 735)

【주문】·【이유】 전문 1,574자 · 펼쳐 보기

【원고, 상고인】 원고

【피고, 피상고인】 중앙노동위원회위원장

【피고보조참가인】 피고보조참가인 협회

【원심판결】 서울고등법원 1995. 7. 20. 선고 94구31404 판결

【주 문】

상고를 기각한다. 상고비용은 원고의 부담으로 한다.

【이 유】 원고의 상고이유를 판단한다.

1. 부당해고구제신청에 따른 구제명령을 얻는다고 하더라도 객관적으로 보아 그 실현이 불가능한 경우에는 법령 등에서 재취업의 기회를 제한하는 규정을 두고 있는 등의 특별한 사정이 없는 한 중앙노동위원회 판정의 취소를 구할 소의 이익은 없다고 할 것이다(당원 1991. 5. 28. 선고 90누5313 판결, 1991. 6. 25. 선고 91다1134 판결, 1995. 4. 7. 선고 94누3209 판결, 1995. 4. 11. 선고 94다4011 판결 등 참조).

사실관계가 원심이 확정한 바와 같이, 피고 보조참가인협회(이하 참가인이라고 한다)의 사무총장으로 근무하던 원고가 재심판정 이후 원심의 변론종결 전인 1995. 4. 6. 임용권자인 참가인의 회장 소외인의 임기가 만료됨에 따라 인사규정 제29조 제1항 제5호에 의하여 당연퇴직하게 된 것이고, 한편 참가인의 임원선출규정, 대의원선출규정 등에는 징계를 받아 일정기간이 경과하지 아니한 자는 피선거권이 없다고 규정되어 있으나 원고는 징계를 받은 것이 아니라 직권면직된 것임이 명백하여 임원, 대의원 등으로 선출되는 데 아무런 장애가 없는 것이라면, 원고로서는 재심판정이 취소되어 구제명령을 얻는다고 하더라도 참가인의 사무총장으로서 복귀하거나 사무총장의 직무를 수행할 지위를 회복하는 것이 불가능하게 되었다고 할 것이므로, 재심판정의 취소를 구하는 이 사건 소는 소의 이익이 없다고 할 것이다.

같은 취지로 이 사건 소가 부적법하다고 판시한 원심판단은 정당하고 거기에 소론과 같은 법리오해나 판단유탈의 위법이 있다고 할 수 없다. 논지는 이유 없다.

2. 재심판정의 취소를 구하는 이유가 단순히 재심판정으로 입은 사회적인 명예의 손상을 회복하기 위한 것이라면 이는 사실상의 이익에 불과한 것이고(당원 1993. 3. 15. 선고 92다20149 판결, 1995. 4. 11. 선고 94다4011 판결 등 참조), 또한 기록상 노동위원회에서 원고에 대하여 임금의 지급명령을 한 바 없음이 명백한 이 사건에서 원고는 앞에서 본 바와 같이 참가인의 직원으로서의 지위 회복이 불가능하게 된 이상 임금 부분에 대하여 임금청구소송 등 민사소송을 제기하여 그 전제로서 면직이 무효임을 주장하여 구제받을 수 있는 것이므로(당원 1991. 6. 28. 선고 90누9346 판결, 1993. 1. 15. 선고 91누5747 판결 등 참조), 명예회복을 위한 것이라거나 임금을 지급받기 위한 것이라는 등의 사유는 재심판정의 취소를 구할 법률상 이익에 해당된다고 볼 수 없다.

같은 취지로 판시한 원심판단은 정당하고, 거기에 소론과 같은 법리오해나 판단유탈의 위법이 있다고 할 수 없다. 논지는 이유 없다.

3. 그러므로 상고를 기각하고 상고비용은 패소자의 부담으로 하기로 하여 관여 법관의 일치된 의견으로 주문과 같이 판결한다.

대법관 신성택(재판장) 천경송 지창권(주심)

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