[Exclusive] "Preventing the Song Minho Incident"... Proposal to Differentiate Social Service Worker Pay Based on Attendance

City Proposes Stronger Oversight of Social Service Agents to Military Manpower Administration
"Disciplinary Measures for Poor Service Are Ineffective," City Says
Partial Compensation Based on Service Diligence Suggested
Incentives for Unused Sick Leave and Expanded Personnel Authority Requested

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has proposed to the Military Manpower Administration a plan to differentiate compensation based on the work attitude of social service agents. This is a follow-up measure in response to allegations of inadequate service by Song Minho of the idol group 'WINNER.' They also requested an expansion of the authority for service institutions to take personnel actions in cases of serious crimes.

According to Seoul city and others on the 1st, the city recently compiled these improvement requests to strengthen the management of social service agents and formally submitted them to the Military Manpower Administration.

In December last year, Song Minho was embroiled in controversy for not properly working at the Mapo Resident Convenience Facility in Seoul, where he was serving as a social service agent. His agency, YG Entertainment, explained, "The sick leave was an extension of treatment received before service, and all leaves were used according to regulations," but there were even revelations that he did not attend work normally at the institution.

The National Police Agency also stated at a regular press briefing on the 31st of last month, "The subject (Song Minho) was summoned for investigation three times, and searches and communication investigations were conducted," adding, "He largely admitted to leaving the workplace during working hours."

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon ordered an urgent full-scale survey of the social service agents' service status immediately after the controversy and had previously announced strict measures based on the investigation results. Seoul city held discussions with the Military Manpower Administration and officials in charge of service management for system improvements. In particular, they conveyed to the Military Manpower Administration that ▲social service agents tend to use sick leave and vacation all at once, making manpower management difficult, ▲the disciplinary effect for inadequate service is insufficient, and ▲service institutions lack personnel authority over social service agents, limiting their ability to issue directives.

The proposed regulation amendments include ▲adjusting the 'number of days allowed for sick leave' according to the service period and providing exceptional incentives if sick leave is unused, ▲differentiating partial compensation based on service diligence evaluation, and ▲allowing personnel actions at the service institution level in cases of serious crimes.

A pilot operation of an electronic attendance system (terminal) has also started for some departments at the Seoul city headquarters. This electronically records all attendance and outings to improve management efficiency, and the recorded attendance data will be used as evidence when disciplining negligent social service agents.

Seoul city intends to continue requesting regulation improvements from the Military Manpower Administration and to implement thorough management, including strengthened disciplinary actions. After the Song Minho incident surfaced, a full survey of 1,500 social service agents working under the city was conducted, revealing 14 cases of unauthorized absences, with 7 individuals reported for prosecution. Internally, the Military Manpower Administration is preparing improvement plans to ensure diligent service by social service agents. They are discussing subdividing disciplinary types for service regulation violators from the current 'warning' to include 'caution,' 'vacation reduction,' and 'salary reduction.'

A Seoul city official said, "We also plan to propose prioritizing the placement of excellent personnel at major national and city facilities," adding, "We will systematically manage social service agents so that those who work diligently do not feel deprived due to the negligence of a few."