Seoul City to Strengthen Ethical Screening of Senior Officials... "Disadvantages in Personnel for Multi-Homeowners"

Introduction of a 3-Step Personnel Verification System for Misconduct and Morality Checks... Regular Biannual Implementation from Next Year
Verification of Housing Ownership, Fictitious Address Registration, Intentional Tax Evasion, and Criminal Records for Public Officials Grade 3 and Above

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] From now on, high-ranking Seoul city officials who do not meet the public’s standards of integrity and morality, such as multi-homeowners, will be excluded from promotions and will not be allowed to handle housing-related duties.

On the 25th, Seoul City announced that it will introduce a rigorous three-stage morality verification system for high-ranking officials at grade 3 or above, conducting it regularly twice a year starting from the first half of next year. However, this will be expanded to include grade 4 officials in departments directly related to housing and real estate.

Currently, Seoul City conducts personnel verification before promotion reviews (for general positions) or new appointments to open positions, but this only confirms misconduct and lacks a system to deeply examine housing ownership status or morality.

In response, considering the recent social atmosphere demanding high integrity and morality from senior officials, as well as citizens’ sentiments and standards, Seoul City plans to significantly strengthen the verification intensity regarding issues that could cause social controversy to enhance trust in the public service.

The enhanced verification system targets grade 3 or higher officials (including open positions) at the headquarters and business offices. The verification items include housing ownership status, false address registration, intentional tax delinquency and evasion, criminal records such as sex crimes and drunk driving, among others.

The verification proceeds in three stages. In the first stage, the official completes a ‘Morality Verification Checklist.’ In the second stage, the Audit Committee verifies the information through supporting documents. If further explanation is needed based on the second-stage results, an opportunity to explain is provided through the Personnel Committee, completing the final verification.

If illegal elements or potential issues are found in the verification results or if documents are falsified, general officials will be excluded from promotions at grade 3 or above. Open-position officials will face restrictions on new appointments and reappointments. In particular, multi-homeowners, who have recently become a social issue, will in principle be excluded from promotions and removed from duties directly related to housing and real estate.

However, Seoul City will provide an opportunity to explain through the Personnel Committee for those holding two or more homes for non-speculative reasons such as resale restrictions, parental support, or children’s actual residence, or for other reasonable reasons, and will recognize exceptions to multi-homeownership if deemed appropriate.

The verification will be conducted twice a year regularly to be used as reference material during regular personnel evaluations. Considering the time required for housing disposition and predictability of personnel actions, a grace period will be given and the system will be applied in stages, with priority given to grades 1 and 2 due to the importance of their positions. Seoul City previously applied the enhanced verification system during the grade 1 promotion review in August and plans to conduct verification for grade 2 promotion candidates in June next year. Full implementation will take place in December next year, reflecting it in the promotion review for grade 3 and transfers for grade 4 and above.

Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, “Real estate speculation, sex crimes, and drunk driving by high-ranking officials are not just personal issues but directly related to the morality of the public service and citizens’ trust. A stricter and more rigorous personnel verification system must be activated.” He added, “I hope this will serve as an opportunity for Seoul’s high-ranking officials to take the lead in creating a clean public service without being embroiled in moral controversies.”