Government Strengthens Punishments for Public Officials' Misconduct, Corruption, and Dual Employment Violations

Meeting of Audit Officers of Central Administrative Agencies on the 16th
"Strict Punishment for Repeated Misconduct"

The government will significantly strengthen the discipline of public service, including enhancing penalties for civil servants who damage dignity or commit misconduct.

On the 16th, the government announced that it held a meeting of auditors from central administrative agencies at the Government Complex Seoul, chaired by Bang Gi-seon, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, where it set the direction for public service management this year and decided to focus on inspecting and improving five major structural tasks.

First, considering the increasing cases of civil servants engaging in public activities such as internet personal broadcasting, the government plans to strengthen education and actual condition inspections regarding the maintenance of public officials' dignity and regulations on concurrent positions.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Penalties will be strengthened for violations of concurrent position regulations and the obligation to maintain the dignity of public officials. Additionally, the government explained that it will strictly punish chronic and repetitive misconduct such as collusion between local agencies and regional companies forming local cartels and the use of corporate cards by subordinate institutions.

Furthermore, to create an environment where national tasks and major policies are actively promoted, the government will strictly address passive behaviors, departmental selfishness, and inter-departmental barriers according to the principle of rewarding merit and punishing faults. Conversely, it will operate audits flexibly and provide rewards such as preferential personnel treatment for those who actively perform their duties.

Moreover, the government stated that it will respond strictly to power harassment, workplace bullying, and sexual misconduct to foster a public service culture based on mutual respect and focused on work performance.

Considering the National Assembly general election on April 10 this year, the government will focus on establishing discipline in service, including securing policy data and ensuring civil servants comply with political neutrality to manage fair elections. Each central administrative agency will create and implement its own inspection plan containing these contents, and the Office for Government Policy Coordination will support departmental activities.

Bang Gi-seon, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, said, "Each public official should be cautious in their conduct," and added, "No illegal intervention cases should occur in the general election, so please strengthen inspections to prevent acts that influence the election by supporting the establishment of pledges for specific political parties or providing policy data."