Abuse of Power, Drunk Driving, and Theft... The Fallen Public Service Discipline at Seocheon County Office

Team Leader-Level Public Official Booked on Theft Charges and Criminally Punished
Two Team Leaders Caught by Inspection Team Receiving Gift Sets Ahead of Holidays

Jeon-gyeong of Seocheon County Office

Some public officials at Seocheon County Office in Chungnam have been caught committing theft, abuse of power, and drunk driving since the 8th local government administration began, leading to criticism of County Governor Kim Gi-woong's lack of leadership and a collapse in public service discipline.

According to a comprehensive report by Asia Economy on the 19th, a team leader-level public official at Seocheon County Office was recently booked on theft charges and received criminal punishment along with a one-month pay cut as disciplinary action.

In January, this official went on a family trip to Ulleungdo and is reported to have stolen cash from a wallet left behind by a customer at a restaurant.

After the customer realized there was no cash in the wallet and reported it to the police, the police reviewed the restaurant's CCTV footage and apprehended the official.

Earlier, in February, two employees including a team leader were caught on site by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission’s special public service inspection team while receiving five gift sets from a company subsidized by the county government in the county office parking lot ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

The county applied the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act to these individuals and initiated disciplinary procedures.

Additionally, last year, a team leader-level official, Mr. B, was reported to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety for verbal abuse and power harassment toward employees and received a pay cut in April. Due to Mr. B’s abuse, two employees resigned, and some others are undergoing medical treatment.

In particular, in April and May, a team leader-level official and an employee were caught by police for drunk driving at blood alcohol levels that would result in license cancellation during working hours and business trips, prompting the county to start disciplinary procedures.

Moreover, six other employees were caught for drunk driving and all received pay cuts. Within less than two years since the start of the 8th local government administration, eight employees have been caught for drunk driving, which is considered a significantly high number compared to other local governments in Chungnam Province.

Meanwhile, on the 3rd, an employee presumed to be working at Seocheon County Office filed a report on the Chungnam Provincial Government’s People’s Petition and Public Interest Reporting section, alleging donation activities and pre-election campaign collusion involving Governor Kim and Team Leader C of the county office.

This official claims, "Another team leader-level public official gifted a luxury bag, presumed to have been purchased at a duty-free shop during a trip to Osaka, Japan in May, to Governor Kim’s wife."

The county audit department has received related documents from Chungnam Provincial Government and is conducting an audit regarding this matter.