9th Grade Public Official on Parental Leave Found 'Not Guilty' for Voice Phishing Cash Collection Part-Time Job, Why?

"Claiming 'Unaware of Crime Involvement'"
Cases of Unauthorized Dual Employment Among Public Officials Surge Annually

A 9th-grade public official who worked part-time as a cash collector for a voice phishing scheme was acquitted. On the 3rd, the Daegu District Court acquitted Mr. A, who was charged with embezzling cash amounting to 40 million won. Mr. A is accused of receiving cash from victims at designated locations under the instructions of a voice phishing organization in July of last year.

A Grade 9 public official who worked as a voice phishing cash collector part-timer was acquitted. On the 3rd, the Daegu District Court acquitted Mr. A, who was charged with embezzling cash amounting to 40 million won as a voice phishing cash collector.
[Photo by Asia Economy]

Mr. A is accused of receiving cash totaling 40 million won in three instances, including 15.87 million won, from victims at designated locations under orders from the voice phishing group in July last year. He claimed, "I only thought I was performing part-time work related to real estate," and insisted, "I did not impersonate a Financial Supervisory Service employee to deceive victims, nor did I know that my actions were related to voice phishing crimes."

Mr. A, who worked as a 9th-grade public official before taking parental leave, submitted his resume on a job search website and joined the company in question. Although there was no interview, he electronically signed a standard employment contract, and the company allegedly enticed him by saying, "To reduce taxes, the sales proceeds will be received in cash," and "If you receive the money and deliver it to a designated place, you will be paid 100,000 to 200,000 won per transaction as a bonus."

The court stated, "The defendant, who lived as a full-time housewife after marriage and later passed the 9th-grade public official exam, lacks social experience compared to her age," and ruled, "It is difficult to see that she participated in the voice phishing organization's crime for some economic benefit while risking losing her public official position." The court added, "CCTV footage shows that the defendant personally drove her vehicle to receive cash from victims in public places and did not attempt to conceal her identity by wearing a mask," and "There is no evidence that she impersonated a financial institution employee, and it appears that the defendant was used as a tool for the voice phishing crime."

The number of public officials holding concurrent positions reached 13,406 in 2022

Public officials enjoy thorough job security, including guaranteed tenure until retirement age under the law. Parental leave is guaranteed for up to three years under the National Public Officials Act, and there are prohibitions against holding concurrent positions and engaging in profit-making activities under the National and Local Public Officials Acts and related regulations. These rules are in place to ensure that public officials or executives of public organizations focus on their official duties and do not pursue personal gain. However, profit-making activities are permitted if there is "permission from the head of the affiliated institution" as specified by law.

According to data submitted by government ministries to Assemblyman Ahn Byung-gil of the People Power Party around July last year, the number of public officials holding concurrent positions surpassed 10,000, increasing from 8,909 in 2018 to 10,890 in 2021. Compared to 2021, this is an increase of more than 50% in four years. Among these, cases of public officials caught holding unauthorized concurrent positions also surged, with 30 cases in 2019, 73 in 2020, 75 in 2021, and 119 in 2022. As the number of public officials holding concurrent positions rises, posts in various online communities inquiring about or sharing information on permission for concurrent positions have also increased. Recently, a post by a public official stating, "If the work is unrelated to the four major social insurances, there is no risk of being caught unless someone nearby reports it," sparked controversy.