Workbear재주넘는곰
대법원 94다57718

Objection to Distribution of Auction Proceeds (배당이의)배당이의

Decided1995. 07. 28. Court대법원Worker won
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.

In this Supreme Court of Korea (대법원) case, a bank challenged workers' claims to priority repayment of severance pay (퇴직금) during a real estate auction distribution process. The Court ruled that a creditor holding a provisional attachment (가압류) cannot be excluded from distribution merely for failing to submit a claim statement, and confirmed that workers' entire severance pay—not just the final three months' worth—is entitled to priority repayment under the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법). The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of the workers.

Key takeaways
  • CaseA bank objected to workers receiving priority distribution of their full severance pay from auction proceeds, arguing only the last three months' pay should qualify.
  • OutcomeThe Supreme Court ruled that workers are entitled to priority repayment of their entire severance pay, not just the final three months, and rejected the bank's objection.
  • LessonEmployers and creditors should recognize that Korean law grants workers priority claims over the full amount of unpaid severance pay in insolvency proceedings, ranking ahead of many secured creditors.
Issues
  • Whether a creditor with a provisional attachment (가압류) on real property registered before an auction begins can be excluded from the distribution of proceeds solely due to failure to submit a claim statement
  • The scope of severance pay entitled to priority repayment under Article 30-2, Paragraph 2 of the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법 제30조의2 제2항)—whether it is limited to the final three months' pay or covers the full severance amount
Key reasoning

The Court interpreted Article 30-2, Paragraph 2 of the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법 제30조의2 제2항), finding that the phrase 'final three months' wages' does not modify or limit the severance pay portion of the provision. Looking at the legislative history and underlying purpose of the statute—protecting workers' basic livelihood—the Court concluded that the full amount of severance pay, not merely the last three months' worth, qualifies for priority repayment status. This interpretation ensures broader protection for workers' claims to unpaid severance pay in insolvency or auction proceedings, ahead of other creditors such as banks holding mortgages.

Summary of Decision (English, AI translation)

[1] A creditor who has obtained a provisional attachment (가압류) on real estate prior to the commencement of the auction procedure is treated as having made a demand for distribution (배당요구) even without having actually made such a demand, and therefore, even if such a provisional attachment creditor fails to submit a statement of claims, he or she should not be excluded from the distribution.

[2] In light of the legislative process, purpose, and intent of Article 30-2(2) of the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법), the phrase "of the last three months" in this provision is deemed not to modify "retirement allowance." Accordingly, it cannot be said that the retirement allowance subject to preferential payment under this statutory provision is limited to the portion of the retirement allowance corresponding to the last three months of service; in principle, the entire amount of the retirement allowance is subject to such preferential payment.

Full text (English, AI translation) 3,434 chars

[Plaintiff, Appellant] Industrial Bank of Korea, Attorney Kang Myeong-hun
[Defendant (Litigation Representative), Appellee] Defendant 1 and 1 other
[Judgment Below] Seoul High Court Decision 94Na31374 rendered on October 28, 1994

[Order]

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

[Reasoning]

The grounds of appeal are examined.

1. As to Ground No. 1
Examining the reasoning of the judgment below in light of the record, it was proper for the court below to find, by comprehensively considering the evidence cited in its judgment, that Defendant 2 filed a demand for distribution on behalf of the designated parties listed in Nos. 2, 3, and 5 through 11 of the attached list of designated parties, having been entrusted with the collection thereof, and there was no error in violation of the rules of evidence in that process. Nor can it be said that there is any contradiction between the disposition dismissing the portion of the claim against the designated parties listed in Nos. 2, 3, and 5 through 11 above and the reasoning therefor. The grounds of appeal on this point cannot be accepted.

2. As to Ground No. 2
A creditor holding a provisional attachment (가압류) on real property prior to the commencement of the auction procedure is, as a matter of course, treated in the same manner as one who has made a demand for distribution, even without having actually made such a demand (Article 658 and Article 589(3) of the Civil Procedure Act (민사소송법)). Therefore, even if such a provisional attachment creditor fails to submit a statement of claim, that creditor must not be excluded from the distribution. The judgment below, which is to the same effect, is proper, and there is no error therein that misapprehends the legal principles under Article 653 of the Civil Procedure Act so as to have affected the judgment. The grounds of appeal on this point also cannot be accepted.

3. As to Ground No. 3
Article 30-2(2) of the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법) provides that wages for the last three months, retirement allowances, and accident compensation shall be paid in preference to claims secured by mortgages or other security interests on the employer's entire property, taxes and public charges, and other claims. In light of the legislative process, purpose, and intent of this provision, the phrase "for the last three months" therein is not construed as modifying "retirement allowance." Accordingly, the retirement allowance subject to priority repayment under the above provision cannot be construed as limited only to the portion of the retirement allowance corresponding to the last three months of service, but in principle, the entire amount of the retirement allowance is subject to such priority repayment. The judgment below, which is to the same effect, is proper, and there is no error therein that misapprehends the legal principles concerning priority repayment of retirement allowances under Article 30-2(2) of the Labor Standards Act so as to have affected the judgment. The grounds of appeal on this point also cannot be accepted.

4. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed, and the costs of the appeal are to be borne by the Plaintiff, the appellant, the opinions of the Justices involved being unanimous, and it is so ordered as stated in the Order.

Justice Park Jun-seo (Presiding Justice), Park Man-ho, Kim Hyeong-seon, Lee Yong-hun (Presiding Judge for the Report)

【판결요지】

가. 경매절차 개시 전의 부동산 가압류권자는 배당요구를 하지 않았더라도 당연히 배당요구를 한 것과 동일하게 취급되므로, 그러한 가압류권자가 채권계산서를 제출하지 않았다 하여도 배당에서 제외하여서는 아니된다.

나. 근로기준법 제30조의2 제2항의 입법 과정이나 목적 및 취지에 비추어 보면, 이 조항에서의 “최종 3월분의”라는 문구는 퇴직금을 수식하지 않는다고 보여지므로, 이 법 조항상의 우선변제의 대상이 되는 퇴직금이 최종 3개월간 근무한 부분에 대한 퇴직금만으로 한정되는 것이라고는 볼 수 없고 원칙적으로 퇴직금 전액이 그 대상이 된다.

【참조조문】

가. 민사소송법 제589조 제3항, 제653조, 제658조 / 나. 근로기준법 제30조의2 제2항

【참조판례】

가. 대법원 1994.3.22. 선고 93다19276 판결(공1994상,1305), 1994.11.22. 선고 94다25728 판결(공1995상,71)> / 나. 대법원 1995.7.25. 선고 94다54474 판결(공1995하,2942)

【주문】·【이유】 전문 1,190자 · 펼쳐 보기

【원고, 상고인】 중소기업은행 변호사 강명훈

【피고(소송대리인), 피상고인】 피고 1 외 1인

【원심판결】 서울고등법원 1994.10.28. 선고 94나31374 판결

【주 문】

상고를 기각한다.

상고비용은 원고의 부담으로 한다.

【이 유】 상고이유를 판단한다.

1. 제1점에 대하여

원심판결 이유를 기록에 비추어 살펴보면, 원심이 그 판결에서 들고 있는 증거들을 종합하여 피고 2가 별지 선정자목록 2, 3, 5 내지 11 기재 선정자들의 추심위임을 받아 배당요구를 한 사실을 인정한 것은 정당하고, 그 과정에서 채증법칙을 위반한 잘못이 있다 할 수 없고, 위 선정자목록 2, 3, 5 내지 11 기재 선정자에 대한 청구 부분을 각하한 조치와 그 이유가 모순된다고 할 수 없다. 상고이유는 받아들일 수 없다.

2. 제2점에 대하여

경매절차 개시 전의 부동산 가압류권자는 배당요구를 하지 않았더라도 당연히 배당요구를 한 것과 동일하게 취급되므로(민사소송법 제658조, 제589조 제3항), 그러한 가압류권자가 채권계산서를 제출하지 아니하였다 하여도 배당에서 제외하여서는 아니된다 할 것이다. 같은 취지의 원심판단은 정당하고, 거기에 민사소송법 제653조의 법리를 오해하여 판결에 영향을 미친 위법이 없다. 이 점에 관한 상고이유도 받아들일 수 없다.

3. 제3점에 대하여

근로기준법 제30조의 2 제2항에 의하면, 최종 3개월분의 임금과 퇴직금 및 재해보상금은 사용자의 총재산에 대하여 저당권 등에 의하여 담보된 채권, 조세·공과금 및 다른 채권에 우선하여 변제되어야 한다고 규정되어 있는 바, 그 입법 과정이나 목적 및 취지에 비추어 보면, 위 조항에서의‘최종 3월분의’라는 문구는 퇴직금을 수식하지 않는다고 보여지므로, 위 법 조항상의 우선변제의 대상이 되는 퇴직금이 최종 3개월간 근무한 부분에 대한 퇴직금만으로 한정되는 것이라고는 볼 수 없고 원칙적으로 퇴직금 전액이 그 대상이 되는 것이라고 할 것이다. 같은 취지의 원심판단은 정당하고, 거기에 근로기준법 제30조의2 제2항의 퇴직금 우선변제에 관한 법리를 오해하여 판결에 영향을 미친 위법이 있다 할 수 없다. 이 점에 관한 상고이유도 받아들일 수 없다.

4. 그러므로 상고를 기각하고, 상고비용은 상고인인 원고의 부담으로 하기로 관여 법관의 의견이 일치되어 주문과 같이 판결한다.

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