Engaged in Profit Activities While Working at a Public Institution
"Only Focused on Content... Didn't Know the Rules"
Youtuber 'Gyedo,' who became famous by appearing on the science knowledge YouTube channel 'Andoel Science,' is reportedly going to be disciplined for violating the prohibition on concurrent public service positions. Gyedo is said to have engaged in profit-making activities through YouTube and lectures while working at an affiliated organization of the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT).
According to the Board of Audit and Inspection's report on the 'Management Status of Affiliated and Invested Organizations' released on the 11th, Gyedo generated income through YouTube appearances, contributions, and writing activities from 2015 until December of last year. This violated government agency regulations on concurrent positions.
The current National Public Officials Service Regulations prohibit public officials from engaging in profit-oriented work outside their official duties. However, Gyedo appeared in a total of 284 videos on the YouTube channel 'Andoel Science' and others from 2018 until last year, generating revenue. This includes paid advertisements.
'Andoel Science' is a science knowledge channel with 930,000 subscribers. The company 'More Science,' in which Gyedo holds a 15% stake, manages the channel. According to the Board of Audit and Inspection, this company generated sales of 686 million KRW in 2021 alone from paid advertising revenue and other sources.
Accordingly, the Board of Audit and Inspection viewed Gyedo's actions as a violation of Article 25 of the National Public Officials Service Regulations. Additionally, the Board noted that 245 of Gyedo's videos were filmed after midnight, suggesting that the filming likely impaired his job performance. Gyedo is currently employed at the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity (KOFAC), an affiliated organization of MSIT.
Moreover, from 2020 to 2022, Gyedo earned approximately 89.47 million KRW in business and other income through 143 appearances on other YouTube channels and 235 lectures, radio shows, broadcasts, writings, and column contributions conducted without permission for concurrent positions. Public officials must obtain approval to engage in activities outside their official duties.
Based on these audit results, the Board of Audit and Inspection notified KOFAC to impose a suspension on Gyedo, and the foundation reportedly agreed to comply.
Regarding the foundation's failure to manage Gyedo's profit-making activities earlier, it explained to Yonhap News, "Since revising the external activity regulations in July last year, we have been managing employees' online activities." However, it added that there are limitations to monitoring all unreported individual activities of employees in advance.
The foundation plans to determine the specific disciplinary measures for Gyedo through an internal audit.
Meanwhile, Gyedo acknowledged the audit results to the media, stating, "There were many shortcomings, and I was only focused on creating content, so I was not well aware of the related regulations."
However, it is reported that Gyedo had already expressed his intention to resign to the foundation in August last year. Nevertheless, he was unable to resign at that time due to the commencement of the audit.
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