The Election Commission Requests Investigation into Individuals Related to 'Child Hiring Allegations'... "Possibility of Unfair Influence Exertion"

Secretary-General Park Chanjin and Deputy Secretary Song Bongseop Dismissed
Investigation Requested for 4 Senior Officials, 4 Referred to Disciplinary Committee
Full Survey Planned for All Employees

The National Election Commission has conducted an internal audit regarding the 'allegations of preferential hiring of executives' children' and decided to request an investigation into four current executives, including Secretary-General Park Chan-jin. Additionally, employees suspected of improper handling of duties have been referred to the disciplinary committee.

No Tae-ak, Chairman of the National Election Commission, held an emergency meeting at the Gwacheon Central Election Commission building on the 31st and then held a press conference, stating, "The Election Commission, which should be the most impartial, has recently caused great disappointment due to inadequate information security management and issues such as preferential hiring and unfair promotions of high-ranking executives' children," and bowed his head, saying, "I feel a profound sense of responsibility along with a heavy heart."

Earlier, from the 17th, the Election Commission established a special audit committee composed of Chairman No, external experts, and executives from city and provincial election commissions, and conducted a two-week special audit. The audit targeted four current executives involved in the preferential hiring allegations: Secretary-General Park Chan-jin, Deputy Secretary Song Bong-seop, a standing member of the Jeju Election Commission, and the General Affairs Manager of the Gyeongnam Election Commission.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

As a result of the audit, the Election Commission reported that all four current audit subjects were likely to have exerted undue influence and decided to request an investigation by investigative authorities. Furthermore, four employees (one overlapping with the special audit investigation subjects) who improperly handled duties during the open competitive recruitment and promotion review processes were referred to the disciplinary committee. The dismissal of Secretary-General Park and Deputy Secretary Song was approved on the same day and will take effect on the 1st of next month.

However, the Election Commission added that the internal audit could not accurately clarify the facts regarding whether undue influence was exerted. A commission official stated, "Our audit could not precisely clarify the factual and substantive circumstances regarding whether undue influence was exerted, so we requested an investigation," adding, "A more detailed examination is necessary." Accordingly, until the investigative authorities disclose the results, the children involved in the allegations are expected to continue working without facing disciplinary disadvantages.

The investigation request is expected to be made to the police rather than the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. An official explained, "If it is a violation of the National Public Service Act under the current circumstances, it is not the Corruption Investigation Office but rather the police who should handle it," adding, "Further review is needed."

Alongside this, the Election Commission announced that it conducted a full survey targeting current and former employees at grade 5 and above. In the future, it plans to conduct a comprehensive survey of all employees regarding kinship relationships within four degrees of consanguinity.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, the Election Commission stated that it will select the Secretary-General position through an open external recruitment process. Traditionally, the Secretary-General position has been filled through internal recruitment. To ensure continuous monitoring and checks against internal corruption, it also plans to introduce an audit committee centered on external personnel.

Regarding the public official recruitment method, the commission proposed improvements such as managing integrated recruitment by the National Election Commission when hiring through competitive recruitment and immediately abolishing the minority competitive recruitment. Furthermore, it plans to establish a political personnel verification committee and introduce procedures to verify whether preferential treatment was given to children.

Meanwhile, in response to reporters' questions about resigning from the chairman position, Chairman No said, "At present, I have no plans to resign," and added, "I will focus on resolving the issues and do my best to stabilize the situation."