"Allegations of Misconduct Including President's Office Dispatch and Affair"
Suspicions of Misuse for Golf Lessons with Special Activity Funds
Wife Submits Petition for Severe Disciplinary Actions Such as Dismissal and Removal
Controversy has arisen after an extramarital affair and other misconduct involving a male and female senior public official, both grade 4, who were dispatched to work at the Presidential Office. It has been reported that the man's wife has submitted a petition regarding the matter.
On the 8th, JoongAng Ilbo reported that last month, a petition from Mr. A's wife, Ms. C, was received by the Public Service Ethics Office of the Presidential Office, stating that "her husband Mr. A and Ms. B committed extramarital affairs and other misconduct, violating the duty to maintain the dignity of public officials under the National Public Service Act." Ms. C reportedly requested the suspension of their positions, a thorough investigation, and severe disciplinary actions such as dismissal or removal.
Mr. A and Ms. B, who passed the administrative examination in the same year, belong to different government ministries and were dispatched to the Presidential Office in April 2022 and July 2023, respectively. Mr. A was promoted to grade 3 shortly before the petition was filed, and Ms. B returned to her original ministry in June. Both Mr. A and Ms. B are known to be married.
Through the petition, Ms. C claimed that the extramarital affair between them continued from July 2023 until recently. She alleged that they met at hotels after work or during weekend duty shifts, used hotels during working hours, or went out in the evening to visit hotels and then returned to the Presidential Office to work overtime. Additionally, suspicions were raised that the two misused special activity funds from the Presidential Office for golf lessons and other purposes.
Ms. C suspected the misconduct after seeing a red heart emoji on Mr. A's phone chat screen in December last year, and Mr. A reportedly requested a divorce earlier this year. In April, Ms. C filed a lawsuit for damages (compensation) against Ms. B at the Daejeon District Court.
Ms. C submitted evidence to the court, including records showing that Mr. A and Ms. B used hotels and motels in Yongsan, where the Presidential Office is located, as well as other locations in Seoul at least 14 times from October 2023 to last April. She also presented photos of a pouch found in Mr. A's car and various adult products as evidence. Among the evidence was CCTV footage from November 2 last year showing the two embracing inside an elevator of a hotel in Seoul.
Mr. A's wife is currently receiving psychological counseling at a hospital due to mental shock. The court reportedly ruled in June that "(the two) have been engaged in a long-term extramarital affair and misconduct," ordering Ms. B to pay Ms. C 30 million won in damages. The Public Service Ethics Office completed its investigation by the end of July and notified the respective ministries of the results. The ministries are reportedly discussing whether to impose disciplinary actions. However, Mr. A and Ms. B claim that most of Ms. C's allegations are either untrue or exaggerated.
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