Korea Commission on Human Rights and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Sign Business Agreement on the 21st
Promise to Cooperate in Confidentiality and Protection Measures for Whistleblowers of Private School Corruption
Chairman Eunjeong Park of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. / Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education are joining forces to strengthen confidentiality, protection, and compensation for whistleblowers who report private school corruption such as embezzlement, accounting fraud, preferential hiring of faculty and staff, and fraudulent requests related to admissions and grades.
On the morning of the 21st, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission signed a business agreement with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to actively cooperate in ensuring confidentiality and protective measures for whistleblowers reporting corruption in educational institutions such as private school corporations.
The educational institutions in question include the headquarters, education support offices, affiliated institutions, and their subordinate organizations under the 'Regulations on Administrative Organization and Staffing Standards of Local Educational Administrative Agencies' supervised and overseen by the Seoul Metropolitan Superintendent of Education.
Also included are schools at all levels established under the 'Elementary and Secondary Education Act' and the 'Early Childhood Education Act,' as well as school corporations and their affiliated institutions under the 'Private School Act.'
The two organizations agreed to actively cooperate in protective measures for whistleblowers reporting private school corruption and to collaborate and support the handling of reports on corruption and public interest violations, as well as compensation and rewards for whistleblowers.
Additionally, they agreed to jointly cooperate on ▲ strengthening prosecution and disciplinary actions against violators of whistleblower protection regulations ▲ cooperation for whistleblower confidentiality and damage relief ▲ cooperation on education and promotion of whistleblower protection systems ▲ and the promotion of integrity policies.
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission has previously signed business agreements and cooperated with Gyeonggi Province, the Korean Bar Association, and the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association to activate reporting of corruption and public interest violations and to strengthen whistleblower protection.
Park Eun-jung, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, said, "The Commission has prioritized the protection and support of whistleblowers reporting corruption and public interest violations, developing and implementing various policies, and has worked to improve systems to provide practical help to whistleblowers."
She added, "I hope this business agreement with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will serve as an opportunity to prevent private school corruption in advance and further spread awareness of whistleblower protection."
Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, stated, "I hope this agreement will be a groundbreaking opportunity to strengthen proactive administration for protecting public interest whistleblowers within the education office," and added, "We will ensure that whistleblowers no longer suffer from disadvantages and that practical protective measures are implemented."
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