Han Jeongae Raises Allegations, Sasehaeng Files Complaint
The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (PCC) has begun a legal review regarding the accusation of preferential hiring of the eldest daughter of Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy.
On the 3rd, the PCC announced that it assigned the case involving Prosecutor General Shim and Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yeol on charges including abuse of authority and violation of the Anti-Graft Act to Investigation Division 3 (Chief Prosecutor Lee Dae-hwan). The civic group Judicial Justice Citizens' Action (Sasehaeng) filed a complaint based on allegations raised by Democratic Party lawmaker Han Jeong-ae that Prosecutor General Shim's eldest daughter was ultimately accepted to the Korea National Diplomatic Academy without meeting the qualification requirements.
Lawmaker Han stated that the qualification requirements for researchers at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy include holding a master's or bachelor's degree and having more than two years of work experience in a related field. However, Prosecutor General Shim's eldest daughter, who worked as a contract researcher last year, did not possess a master's degree or a major related to the main duties at that time.
Based on Lawmaker Han's claims, Sasehaeng submitted a complaint alleging that Minister Cho abused his authority to grant preferential treatment to Prosecutor General Shim's eldest daughter. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, upon the emergence of the preferential hiring allegations, requested a public audit from the Board of Audit and Inspection and stated that it would withhold any decisions regarding the hiring until the audit results are released.
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