"Shocking Perception That Even Civil Servants Will Be Fired"
HR Staff Who Heard Abusive Language Still Undergoing Treatment
Kim Woo-nam, President of Korea Racing Authority
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] On the 15th, members of the People Power Party belonging to the National Assembly's Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee urged the resignation of Kim Woo-nam, Chairman of the Korea Racing Authority, stating that "immediately after his inauguration, he pushed for illegal preferential hiring of close associates and verbally abused employees who opposed it."
In a joint press release on the same day, the lawmakers said, "Chairman Kim repeatedly subjected the personnel officer who opposed his attempt to hire a close associate, who was his aide during his time as a member of the National Assembly, as Chief Secretary, to abusive language that is unmentionable, based on internal regulations and recommendations from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission." They added, "It is known that the employee is currently receiving psychiatric treatment due to trauma."
They continued, "Chairman Kim's attitude of even threatening to dismiss officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is truly shocking, and the concerns of the Korea Racing Authority Labor Union, which opposed his appointment as chairman due to his past abuse of power and verbal abuse during his time as a lawmaker, are becoming a reality."
Chairman Kim, a three-term lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, previously served as the chairman of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee during the 19th National Assembly. About two months after his inauguration, Kim appointed his aide not as Chief Secretary but as an advisory committee member receiving a monthly salary of 7 million won, and caused controversy by verbally abusing employees.
People Power Party lawmakers stated, "Chairman Kim's existence, solely focused on favoritism and abuse of power, reveals the ugly truth of the regime's reckless parachute appointment system," and urged "the immediate resignation of Chairman Kim and his close associate appointed as an advisory committee member, who have driven the Korea Racing Authority into crisis."
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