Police Refer Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon to Corruption Investigation Office over 'Special Hiring Allegations of Dismissed Teachers'

The online inauguration ceremony of the 38th Mayor of Seoul was held on the morning of the 22nd of last month at the DDP video studio 'Seoul-On' in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Superintendent of Education Cho Hee-yeon is delivering congratulatory remarks. 20210422/ Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon, who was accused of improperly ordering the special hiring of dismissed teachers, will have the case transferred by the police to the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (Gong-su-cheo).

According to the police on the 4th, the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency decided to hand over the case, in which the Board of Audit and Inspection accused Superintendent Cho of violating the National Public Officials Act, to Gong-su-cheo. It is reported that Gong-su-cheo first requested the police to transfer the case.

According to the Gong-su-cheo Act, high-ranking public officials subject to investigation by Gong-su-cheo include education superintendents. Furthermore, if the head of Gong-su-cheo judges that it is appropriate for Gong-su-cheo to investigate the case considering the progress and fairness of the investigation and requests the transfer, the investigative agency must comply.

Earlier, the Board of Audit and Inspection revealed that Superintendent Cho ordered the relevant department to review and promote the special hiring of five dismissed teachers in July to August 2018. Among them, one person ran as a preliminary candidate in the education superintendent election in June of the same year, later unified with Superintendent Cho, and assisted in the election campaign.