Taking Annual Leave Immediately After Returning to Work the Day After Release from Detention Center
Normal Work Performance Is Difficult
Park Hee-young, the Yongsan District Mayor who is on trial for inadequate response to the Itaewon disaster, has sparked controversy as he returned to work immediately the day after being released on bail and is expected to receive his salary normally.
Previously, Park, who was detained during the investigation in December last year, requested bail from the court, citing that he was suffering from panic disorder and other conditions due to the aftermath of the Itaewon disaster. The court accepted this request on the 7th, and Park was released from the Seoul Guro District Southern Detention Center on the same day under conditions including a deposit.
Park returned to work at the Yongsan District Office on the 8th, the day after his release. This was his first day back at work in five months since his detention and indictment in January.
However, following continued protests from the families of the Itaewon disaster victims, Park took a day off on the 9th and did not go to work. According to Yongsan District, Park took annual leave for “personal reasons,” stating he would receive medical treatment.
Meanwhile, another controversy is expected as it appears his salary will be paid normally.
According to the Local Public Officials Service Regulations, district mayors are political officials subject to a fixed annual salary system without separate performance bonuses. Their pay is linked to the rank and position of the deputy district mayor.
The Enforcement Decree of the Local Autonomy Act stipulates that deputy district mayors of autonomous districts with populations between 100,000 and less than 500,000 are to be appointed as local deputy directors of grade 3, and the salary regulations set the district mayor’s annual salary accordingly. As of May, Yongsan District’s population is 217,438, which falls within this range.
The annual salary of the Yongsan District Mayor is approximately 111,042,000 KRW, which translates to about 9,253,500 KRW per month. Including additional allowances such as a monthly position allowance of 650,000 KRW and a fixed meal allowance of 140,000 KRW according to local public official allowance regulations, the monthly salary exceeds 10 million KRW.
After being released on the 7th under conditions including a deposit, Park returned to work on the 8th and is expected to receive his monthly salary including the basic components.
On the 10th, a Yongsan District official stated, “He started work on the 8th, and we understand that his salary is being paid normally. However, if there are variables such as frequent absences, the amount may change.”
However, since Park has only been released from detention but still faces restrictions on his movements, it is expected that normal work performance will be difficult.
As a criminal defendant undergoing a first trial, he must attend court hearings and is restricted to his residence. He must obtain court permission to travel abroad, among other limitations. Therefore, it is realistically difficult for him to fully engage in various external activities as a head of the district.
The lack of communication with the bereaved families, which has caused conflicts, is also expected to be a factor going forward. It was reported that Park avoided the families and reporters who had announced plans to block his return to work by arriving at the office early in the morning on the 8th.
At that time, Park did not meet with the families who came to the mayor’s office and did not issue any statements. The families plan to continue daily one-person protests in front of the district office following their attempt to block his return to work.
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