Convicted 15 Times, Serving as a Citizen Auditor for Over a Year... Controversy Over Inadequate Verification

Cannot Check Past Criminal Records for Appointed Positions

Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education has sparked controversy after it was revealed that a man with 15 prior convictions was included among the 'Citizen Auditors' operated to ensure transparency in audits.

On the 2nd, Yonhap News reported that "Incheon Office of Education appointed Mr. A as a citizen auditor in the policy division last June after going through the recruitment process." According to Yonhap News, Mr. A has been active as a citizen auditor for over a year, but recently, it was revealed that he has 15 prior convictions, leading to criticism over the office's inadequate personnel screening.

Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education building exterior

Mr. A was fined 1 million won in 2008 for violating the Building Act, and until 2017, he received 12 fines and 3 prison sentences with suspended execution. His criminal record includes charges such as injury, aiding a criminal, fraud, obstruction of official duties, drunk driving, and driving without a license under the Road Traffic Act. Notably, after being fined 3 million won for drunk driving in 2016, he was caught driving without a license three times and was sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year suspended sentence.

The citizen auditor announcement clearly states that those disqualified under Article 33 of the National Public Service Act, persons involved in profit-making activities related to the Office of Education (or its affiliated organizations), and those involved in various misconducts are not eligible to apply. However, the Office of Education reportedly only confirmed that Mr. A did not fall under basic disqualification criteria and failed to check his past criminal record.

While criminal background checks are possible for public servant appointments, there is no legal basis under current ordinances to check the criminal records of civilians appointed as citizen auditors.

Considering the nature of the citizen auditors' duties involving public work, the Office of Education plans to strengthen eligibility criteria in future recruitment processes.

The Incheon Office of Education's citizen auditors consist of 30 members, each assigned to one of six areas: policy, after-school activities, life education, facility safety management, school meals, and integrity. They participate in audits, checking anti-corruption and integrity promotion status, identifying improvements in major projects or corruption-prone areas, and monitoring misconduct or irregularities by public officials.