[Exclusive] Chungnam Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency Orders Reinstatement of Employee Accused of Violating Kim Young-ran Act

Controversy Over Improper Solicitation... Reinstated During Police Investigation
Allegations of Power Abuse Among Employees... Received Internal Disciplinary Action

The Chungnam Information and Culture Industry Promotion Agency is facing controversy for ordering the reinstatement of an individual who received a three-month salary reduction disciplinary action for workplace power harassment and is under police investigation for allegations of improper solicitation.

Workplace Bullying. Photo by Asia Economy DB

According to a comprehensive report from our investigation on the 17th, the Chungnam Information and Culture Industry Promotion Agency recently reinstated Director A, who was disciplined for workplace power harassment during the previous director’s tenure and received an internal disciplinary action (suspension from position) for violating the Kim Young-ran Act (the Act on the Prohibition of Improper Solicitation and Graft). Director A has been working in the Cultural City Office within the agency since the 10th.

The Chungcheongnam-do Audit Committee received a case alleging that Director A obtained 5 million KRW worth of securities from a service company in the form of Starbucks gift cards, raising suspicions of violating the Kim Young-ran Act. Director A’s case is currently under investigation by the Chungnam Police Agency.

According to Article 22 (Prohibition of Receiving Money or Gifts) of the Code of Conduct for Public Institution Employees, (Paragraph 1) employees must not receive, request, or promise to receive money or gifts exceeding 1 million KRW per occasion or 3 million KRW per fiscal year from the same individual, regardless of whether it is related to their duties or under the pretext of donations, sponsorships, or gifts. Furthermore, employees must not receive, request, or promise to receive money or gifts below the amounts specified in Paragraph 1, regardless of whether there is compensation involved, in relation to their duties.

Kim Gok-mi, the newly appointed director of the agency, explained on the 13th of last month when she reinstated Director A, “It appeared that the work performance was good, and since Director A was suspended from position rather than dismissed, it was a situation where we had to call him back eventually. We did not have the capacity to find a suitable replacement while waiting for the police investigation to conclude this fall, so we decided to give Director A a chance to make up for it by delivering results.”

Within the agency, there are criticisms that the director’s order to reinstate Director A may constitute a personnel appointment violating the Code of Conduct for Employees and personnel regulations.