First Ineligibility Case Since Introduction Last September
Attention Focused on Whether Governor Appointment Will Proceed
The North Gyeongsang Provincial Council's Personnel Hearing Committee for the CEO candidate of the Gyeongbuk Happiness Foundation (Chairman: Choi Taerim) has reached a decision of 'unsuitable.'
Jung Jaehoon, the candidate, has served as a professor in the Department of Social Welfare at Seoul Women's University for over 20 years, accumulating a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of social welfare through research, lectures, and policy consulting. Since 2020, he has also served as the head of the Regional Cooperation Subcommittee of the Presidential Committee on Low Fertility and Aging Society.
Jaehoon Jung, candidate for CEO of the Gyeongbuk Happiness Foundation, is handing over the hearing documents to Taerim Choi, chairman of the personnel hearing committee of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council (left).
The personnel hearing for the CEO candidate of the Gyeongbuk Happiness Foundation, held on the 24th, was composed of 12 members, including all members of the Administrative Health and Welfare Committee of the North Gyeongsang Provincial Council and three members recommended by the chairperson. The committee conducted a thorough evaluation of the candidate from various perspectives, including leadership, job performance ability, morality, and qualifications required of a public institution head.
The committee members posed in-depth questions to assess the candidate's understanding and capabilities regarding various pressing issues facing the foundation, such as follow-up plans after the integration with the Gyeongbuk Youth Development Foundation in January, the foundation's strategies to overcome the crises of low birthrate and regional extinction, concrete business plans to address welfare blind spots and expand related infrastructure, and the establishment of evaluation, management, and support systems to improve the quality of services at social welfare facilities.
The committee expressed an 'unsuitable' opinion for several reasons: the candidate lacks experience as a manager of a large organization or institution, so his management skills and leadership as a head of an institution have not been verified; he plans to maintain his university professorship even after appointment, making it difficult to fully devote himself to the CEO role; he has limited ties to North Gyeongsang Province, resulting in insufficient understanding of the region's realities and challenges; and he has previously received a severe disciplinary action for inappropriate remarks during lectures.
Chairman Choi Taerim of the Personnel Hearing Committee stated, "Although the candidate possesses deep expertise and extensive field experience as a specialist in social welfare, there were significant shortcomings in job performance ability, qualifications, and morality to resolve the various and difficult issues facing the foundation following its integration with the Gyeongbuk Youth Development Foundation in January. As an oversight body for the executive branch, the North Gyeongsang Provincial Council will continue to operate the personnel hearing system thoroughly and strictly to ensure that only candidates who meet the expectations of the residents are appointed as heads of public institutions."
The personnel hearing report on the candidate for CEO of the Gyeongbuk Happiness Foundation, adopted at the committee meeting that day, was sent to the North Gyeongsang Governor after being reported to the chairperson. The governor is expected to decide whether to appoint Jung Jaehoon as CEO of the Gyeongbuk Happiness Foundation after reviewing the report.
An official from the North Gyeongsang Provincial Council stated, "This is the first time since the introduction of the personnel hearing system in September last year that an 'unsuitable' opinion has been issued. Attention is focused on whether the North Gyeongsang Governor will push ahead with the appointment of Jung Jaehoon despite the negative opinion in early June."
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