Former Senior Official of Cheongwadae, Employment Restriction at Law Firm Gwangjang

Public Service Ethics Committee Publishes May Employment Reviews for Retired Officials... 74 Cases Reviewed, 3 Employment Restrictions, 4 Employment Disapprovals

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] A former high-ranking special appointment official of the Blue House was denied employment at the law firm Gwangjang due to a 'employment restriction' decision.

The Government Officials Ethics Committee announced on the 3rd that it disclosed the results of employment reviews conducted on 74 cases where retired public officials requested employment screening on the 28th of last month on the Public Service Ethics System website.

The Ethics Committee decided on 'employment restriction' for 3 cases where a close business relationship was recognized between the department or agency to which the individual belonged during the last 5 years before retirement and the prospective employer. Additionally, 4 cases were decided as 'employment disapproval' because they were judged not to meet the employment approval reasons stipulated by law.

The view of Cheongwadae from Namsan, Seoul on the 11th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Among those who received employment restriction decisions from the Ethics Committee was a former high-ranking special appointment official of the Blue House. He retired in April and attempted to be employed as a lawyer at the law firm Gwangjang in June but was restricted from employment on the grounds that the job involved 'investigation, trial, and adjudication related to cases where the restricted institution is the party or has a direct interest.'

On the other hand, a former political official of the Blue House who retired in March was permitted to be employed as a lawyer at the law firm Kim & Chang in June.

The Ethics Committee did not disclose the real names of those who received employment restriction or approval decisions but it is known that they were personnel who worked in the Blue House Civil Affairs Office.

Meanwhile, the Ethics Committee decided to impose fines on 9 cases of arbitrary employment without prior employment screening and notified the relevant individuals to the competent court.