[2024 National Audit] Anti-Corruption Commission: "Whistleblower in Civil Petition Manipulation Allegation May Qualify for Protection Measures"

"Separate Judgment Through Changes in Claim Purpose"
Possibility of Action Under the Public Interest Whistleblower Protection Act

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission stated that it can "make a separate judgment through changing or adding the purpose of the request" regarding whether it can provide protection measures by recognizing the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) employees who reported allegations that Chairman Ryu Hee-rim ordered 'civil complaints' as whistleblowers.

Ryu Hee-rim, Chairman of the Korea Communications Standards Commission Photo by Yonhap News

A representative from the Commission appeared as a witness at the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee's KCSC audit on the 21st and responded to the question of whether the KCSC employees are whistleblowers by saying, "They are reporters of violations of the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act, and the Public Interest Whistleblower Protection Act (PIWPA) is applied to their protection measures, so it is possible that they are subject to protection," adding this statement.

He further explained, "Until recently, the whistleblowers applied for mitigation of responsibility, but it was considered that there was no specific subject for responsibility mitigation," and added, "If the whistleblowers change or add the purpose of their request, seeing the transfer measures they claim to be unfair as disadvantages, it can be reviewed."

Regarding this, the whistleblowing KCSC employees argued, "We reported because we found out that Chairman Ryu mobilized acquaintances to file complaints to sanction a broadcasting company that reported on the corruption of the highest authority who appointed him, so this is indeed a public interest disclosure," and claimed, "The transfer to a research fellow position is indeed a disadvantage."

On the other hand, Chairman Ryu reaffirmed his previous position when asked whether he had intervened in the allegations of ordering civil complaints, responding, "That is correct."

Earlier, some KCSC employees reported to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission that Chairman Ryu had mobilized relatives and acquaintances to file complaints with the KCSC regarding reports citing the 'Kim Man-bae - Shin Hak-rim interview.' In response, the KCSC reported that the employees leaked personal information of complainants to certain media outlets, leading to a police search and seizure.