Disciplinary Statute of Limitations for Public Officials' Sexual Misconduct Extended from 3 to 10 Years... Public Officials Act Amendment Passed

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] The statute of limitations for disciplining public officials who commit sexual misconduct will be extended from the current 3 years to 10 years. This aims to prevent situations where disciplinary action cannot be taken because the statute of limitations has expired even if sexual misconduct is revealed belatedly, ensuring that responsibility is always held accountable.

The Ministry of Personnel Management announced on the 24th that the amendments to the "National Public Officials Act" and the "Local Public Officials Act" containing these provisions were collectively approved at the Cabinet meeting. Additionally, for serious misconduct including sexual misconduct, the conditions for reducing disciplinary measures through appeals will become more stringent. Previously, a reduction could be granted if a majority of the appeal committee agreed, but going forward, for severe disciplinary actions, a two-thirds majority of attending committee members will be required to approve any reduction.

Furthermore, in cases related to recruitment irregularities such as improper solicitation, if a court issues a final guilty verdict, even if the individual is currently serving as a public official, their acceptance and appointment can be nullified. This applies even if the individual did not directly commit the recruitment misconduct. The Ministry of Personnel Management stated, "By establishing a legal basis to prevent any benefits from recruitment-related misconduct, we expect the fairness of recruitment to be significantly enhanced."

The amendment also legally stipulates exemption from disciplinary action and preferential treatment in personnel matters for proactive administration. The legal basis, which previously existed only in presidential decrees, has been incorporated into general law to strengthen its legal effect and will be broadly applied to all public officials including those in the National Assembly, judiciary, police, and fire services.

Moreover, the maximum duration of official sick leave for public officials who contract illnesses or sustain injuries while performing high-risk duties has been extended from the current 3 years to up to 5 years.

Hwang Seo-jong, head of the Ministry of Personnel Management, said, "We intend to take responsibility for and protect proactive public officials while strictly holding accountable those who commit misconduct. We hope this legal amendment will serve as an opportunity to further raise public expectations and trust in the public service."