Unionized health and medical workers have called for an apology from Rev. Jeon Kwang-hoon, an ultra-right pastor leading Love First Church, who caused controversy over his remarks that sexually abused nurses. They also warned of legal action.

In a video sermon released on YouTube on Sunday, Rev. Jeon, while announcing a plan to build a welfare hospital, said, “When Christians go to heaven at the end, we will make a choir by dressing pretty nurses in short skirts. Shouldn’t they go to heaven in this way?”

The Korean Health and Medical Workers’ Union said in a statement Tuesday, “Rev. Jeon’s words were seriously problematic remarks that disparaged and sexually objectified nurses dedicating themselves to medical fields and all women.”

“We will closely watch Jeon’s moves concerning this incident to show our resolute opposition to the sexual objectification and sexual commercialization of nurses and women,” it said. “Furthermore, we will take stern legal action after legal examination. Rev. Jeon must apologize immediately and promise not to repeat it.”

union also expressed concerns about the spread of inappropriate remarks about nurses, most of whom are women, in medical fields where legal abuses, violence, and sexual assaults occur.

According to the union’s survey of 40,000 members in 2021, 57.5 percent suffered from verbal abuse, such as high voice, informal speech, abusive language, and intimidation. In particular, 67.6 percent of nurses were verbally abused, and 25.2 percent experienced assault damage.

In the case of women, 63.9 percent had experienced at least one verbal abuse, assault, or sexual violence. Among them, 11.4 percent experienced verbal and visual sexual violence, and 5.3 percent experienced physical contact against their will.