Gangnam-gu Office Manager's Approval of Employee Meal Expenses for Congratulatory and Condolence Events Sparks Controversy Over Business Promotion Funds

Integrated Union Gangnam-gu Branch Issues Statement on 24th, Criticizing 'Department Head Who Abused Power Should Take Honorary Retirement, Department Head Who Embezzled Public Funds Should Be Suspended'

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] A department head at Gangnam District Office has sparked controversy after it was revealed that he charged the cost of a galbitang meal served to employees as a return favor for personal family events to the business promotion expenses.

The amount spent in this manner is reported to be close to 8 million won.

The Gangnam District Branch of the Integrated Labor Union (Branch Chief Im Seong-cheol) issued a statement on the 24th titled, "The department head who abused power should take honorary retirement, and the department head who embezzled public funds should be suspended from duty," criticizing the situation.

Branch Chief Im said, "Unlike the district chief who tirelessly works day and night to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it seems the department heads are preoccupied with absurd thoughts," adding, "The facts revealed through employee reports are truly outrageous and unbelievable."

It was revealed that a department head in a certain department treated business promotion expenses as personal petty cash, charging even the galbitang meal costs served to employees as a return favor for personal family events to the business promotion expenses, with prepayments to local restaurants amounting to nearly 8 million won.

Furthermore, employee meal expenses spent under the pretext of staff campaigns were also inflated and ended up in the personal pockets of the department head.

Another department head allegedly tried to funnel work orders to a known company through unfair work instructions and, when employees refused, subjected them to power abuse, which led to the department head being transferred.

It is unlikely that the abusive habits will disappear with the transfer, and since the employees in the newly assigned department are fully aware of the situation, can such a person become a respected manager? The statement sarcastically remarked, "You have shown tremendous consideration for one person."

Branch Chief Im said, "The honorable retirement is already out of the question."

Although the incident occurred earlier, the district office tried to keep it quiet and cover it up because it involved department heads, leading to this situation. One individual is soon to be subject to a prosecution investigation and institutional notification.

Branch Chief Im criticized District Chief Jeong Soon-gyun, saying, "The protection of department heads at Gangnam District Office remains unchanged, and even with a change in the district chief, the status of managers is persistently guaranteed."

Due to humane consideration that retirement is near and the department heads’ authority being diminished, since last year every time an incident occurred, the conclusion was to protect the department heads, so abusive administration and personal corruption have neither been eradicated nor reduced.

Branch Chief Im targeted District Chief Jeong Soon-gyun, asking, "When will you show the changed Gangnam and your charisma?"

The Integrated Labor Union stated that among the two department heads nearing retirement, the one misunderstood for power abuse should be encouraged to voluntarily take ‘honorary retirement,’ and the other should remain ‘suspended from duty’ until the prosecution investigation results are out.

Branch Chief Im said, "I believe a major reason why multi-faceted evaluations were not actively reflected in the promotion to section chief was this," adding, "To prevent similar incidents in the future, I strongly recommend adjusting the multi-faceted evaluation ratio to 15% starting from the second half promotion personnel."

He criticized the behavior of managers, which is far removed from the lives of employees who are frequently dispatched due to COVID-19, risking their lives over a single mask and being sent to the front lines.

Branch Chief Im said, "Right now, as soon as the election ended, personnel were mobilized to manage self-quarantined individuals at the community service centers, and in some districts, employees were busy submitting audit materials even on the Sunday after the election," adding, "I don’t know what is so urgent that employees are not given any rest, while others seem to be given endless time. Now, masks are to be distributed?4 per person to 79,000 people aged 65 and over, and 35 per person to 18,000 low-income individuals," expressing dissatisfaction.

He also pointed out problems with the distribution method.

Although the mask shortage situation is no longer severe and it is a time to maintain non-face-to-face methods to minimize COVID-19 infection risk, a notice to deliver masks to community service centers is being implemented, which he criticized.

Community service center welfare teams are already overwhelmed with endless lines of visitors applying for Seoul City emergency living expenses and temporary livelihood support, working past 11 p.m. daily, and preparing for next month’s government disaster relief funds, making it a nightmare. Even without additional burdens, these centers are exposed to infection risks, so sending employees out to distribute masks is like praying for them to catch COVID-19, he protested.

He questioned whether there is a prepared place to cover administrative gaps if even one community service center in the area closes and whether there is the capacity to respond.

Branch Chief Im concluded, "I sincerely hope that limited personnel will be operated efficiently to overcome the COVID-19 situation, and that power abuse and corruption will be decisively eradicated."