NEC Cancels Appointments of Eight, Including Children of Senior Officials, Over 'Preferential Hiring' Allegations

On April 30, the appointments of eight individuals, including children of senior officials at the National Election Commission (NEC) who were implicated in allegations of preferential hiring, were canceled.

The NEC announced in a press release on this day that it had revoked the appointments of eight individuals, including children of high-ranking officials accused of receiving preferential treatment during the hiring process of local government officials as regional NEC staff, after conducting hearings and other procedures.

Regarding two other individuals whose appointment cancellation procedures are still ongoing, the NEC explained that a decision would be made later depending on the results of the investigation.

The NEC added that it had also completed disciplinary actions against 16 employees identified by the Board of Audit and Inspection as having inappropriately handled duties during the preferential hiring process.

Previously, the NEC referred a total of 19 people for investigation on charges of violating the National Public Service Act and other regulations, including eight senior officials such as former Secretary General Park Chanjin and former Deputy Secretary General Song Bongseop, as well as 11 individuals directly implicated in the preferential hiring allegations.