On "News Factory," Kim says, "If you are dissatisfied, just resign"
Controversy erupts over remarks seen as "ignorant of financial supervision"
While Financial Supervisory Service employees continue their "mourning attire protest" in opposition to the government's plan to reorganize the financial regulatory system, YouTuber Kim Eo-jun has sparked controversy by stating, "If you are dissatisfied, you should resign."
On September 11, during his YouTube show "News Factory," Kim said, "All Financial Supervisory Service employees should be allowed to resign and new people should be hired," adding, "Since their dissatisfaction is understandable from a personal perspective, it would be better to process their resignations and let them do as they wish."
Park Hongkeun, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea who appeared as a panelist on the show, commented, "Since there is opposition, it is necessary to listen to their opinions sufficiently," but added, "According to checks with the government and the presidential office, there were no disagreements regarding the separation and corporatization of the Financial Supervisory Service."
After the broadcast was released, some Financial Supervisory Service employees reportedly expressed anger. According to multiple media reports, the agency's internal bulletin board was flooded with criticism, such as, "If all employees resign, financial supervision will come to a complete halt. Can you handle that?" and "Do you even know anything about financial supervision?" One employee pointed out, "For those at grade 4 or higher, employment in the financial sector is restricted for three years after resignation," and criticized, "Most of us are breadwinners for our families and this is a matter of survival, yet he talks so lightly about resignation."
Meanwhile, since September 8, about 700 Financial Supervisory Service employees have continued their mourning attire protest. Nameplates of employees who have expressed opposition to the organizational separation have been laid at the main entrance of the agency, and a large banner reading "The protection of financial consumers has come to an end" has reportedly been hung at the entrance.
Previously, the Democratic Party of Korea announced a government organization law amendment containing the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Financial Services Commission's reorganization plan. The amendment calls for splitting the Ministry of Economy and Finance into the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Ministry of Planning and Budget, and transferring the policy functions of the Financial Services Commission to the Ministry of Finance and Economy. In the case of the Financial Supervisory Service, the bill proposes establishing a new Financial Consumer Agency by separating and elevating the Consumer Protection Bureau. The Financial Consumer Agency is expected to be granted authority for inspections and sanctions to protect financial consumers.
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