Board of Audit and Inspection Finds No Violation in Office Director Personnel Misconduct Allegations
Kim Haenggeum Avoids Responsibility, Claiming "I Have Not Received the Results"... Admits to "Loss of Self-Correction Ability"
Kim Haenggeum, the chairperson of the Cheonan City Council in South Chungcheong Province and a member of the People Power Party, has remained silent and failed to keep her promise to "take responsibility" even though the Board of Audit and Inspection found no issues with the "alleged personnel misconduct by the Office Director" that she reported.
As a result, critics argue that Chairperson Kim is proving her own claim that she has "lost the ability to self-correct."
Previously, on January 16, Kim held an emergency press conference and claimed, "The Office Director pressured me to sign off on a promotion appointment in order to promote an alumnus from his alma mater." She added, "Because the Office Director and the office deceived and defied me, our organization has lost its ability to self-correct."
She further stated, "The Office Director convened the personnel committee without my approval as the appointing authority, and the personnel plan was also leaked to outsiders."
She went on to announce, "On the 13th, I requested an audit of corrupt practices from the Board of Audit and Inspection," and declared, "I will take responsibility according to the results of the audit." The Office Director was replaced the day after the emergency press conference.
However, the audit request that Kim claimed to have made turned out to be a simple report submitted via the National Petition Portal and other channels. The Board of Audit and Inspection concluded after investigation that there had been no violation of regulations and closed the case on April 3.
In a reasonable situation, Kim should have accepted the Board's conclusion and proceeded with the personnel approvals.
However, in a party meeting held last month, she insisted, "I have not received the results from the Board of Audit and Inspection," and has continued to remain silent to this day.
As a result, the personnel appointments have been left in limbo for an extended period. The Office of the City Council submitted a personnel policy report for the first half of the year earlier this year.
Nevertheless, Kim reportedly drafted a separate personnel plan, including 2 candidates for promotion, 2 promotion candidates, and 6 transfers?a total of 10 people?and delivered it to the Office of the City Council.
An official from the Office of the City Council explained, "It is highly unusual for the appointing authority to disregard personnel principles and procedures and specifically name the personnel targets."
An administrative law expert commented, "If the appointing authority rejects the personnel committee's decision without reason, it may constitute a violation of the Local Public Officials Act and could be considered neglect of duty or abuse of authority."
The expert added, "Statements made at a press conference that include false information could also be subject to charges of defamation or spreading false information."
A member of the Cheonan City Council pointed out, "The personnel conflict between the chairperson and the former Office Director is leading to public distrust in administration," and emphasized, "Since the Board of Audit and Inspection concluded there was no problem, the chairperson should keep her promise to take responsibility and accept the personnel committee's decision."
Regarding this matter, Asia Economy attempted to contact Chairperson Kim for her position, but received no response. The reporter also visited her office, but although she was present, she avoided answering by saying she had a scheduled appointment.
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