"Alcohol as an Enemy"... The Story of a Civil Servant Facing 'Fall from Grace' Just Before Retirement?

Unfortunate Incidents Occur as Seoul District Senior Officials Are Accused of Sexual Harassment After Drinking with Employees

Drinking alcohol in moderation can be beneficial to health. It can also serve as a social lubricant in interpersonal relationships.

However, the issue lies in the degree. Excessive drinking can cause significant harm not only to health but also socially.

Especially in human society, alcohol can drive people into the abyss of ruin, so caution is necessary.

Just as ‘restraint’ and ‘moderation’ are needed in all things, drinking also brings trouble if one crosses a certain line.

But since people are imperfect, many have suffered misfortune due to a lack of self-control when drinking.

It is particularly regrettable that many public officials fall into such situations. Especially if they leave an indelible stain caused by alcohol near the end of their public service, all their hard work up to that point becomes wasted.

There are frequent cases where public officials in Seoul’s autonomous districts suffer misfortune due to alcohol, causing distress not only to themselves but also to those around them.

In one autonomous district in Seoul, four public officials were investigated by judicial authorities after being accused of sexual harassment while enjoying karaoke following drinking three months ago. Notably, one of these officials is six months away from retirement, and if severe disciplinary action is taken, it could ruin the career they have built over a lifetime.

In another district, a senior official was caught driving under the influence and is reportedly at risk of a ‘third strike’ for drunk driving, drawing attention. This official is also six months away from retirement, making the situation even more unfortunate.

In a different district, a department head reportedly suffered hardship after being accused of sexual harassment at a karaoke room with three female employees.

Additionally, recently, a department head and a team leader from a major department in one district caused controversy and faced difficulties such as early retirement.

Such incidents caused by alcohol-related misfortunes have increased the likelihood of public officials falling from grace, raising awareness and drawing attention.

One district official said, “I don’t have dinner with employees at all, so I feel at ease.” This official added, “In autonomous districts, the area is small, so news about who drank with whom spreads quickly as rumors. Since I don’t drink, I avoid such incidents. One must always be careful about their conduct.”

Because of this, Seoul City encourages employees to refrain from company dinners as much as possible and prohibits second rounds and karaoke.

Especially nowadays, during the ‘promotion season,’ it is even more important to be cautious about one’s behavior.