On December 16, at the 321st regular session, Sungoh Lee, Daegu City Council Member (People Power Party, Suseong District 3), saw the ordinance bill he sponsored, titled "Partial Amendment to the Daegu Metropolitan City Ordinance on the Protection and Support of Public Interest Whistleblowers," pass the deliberation of the relevant standing committee (Planning and Administration Committee). The bill is now awaiting a vote at the plenary session scheduled for December 18.
Lee explained the reason for the amendment, stating, "The existing ordinance, which is focused on corruption reporting, is insufficient to adequately address the increasingly diverse illegal activities in the public sector." He added, "It is necessary to establish institutional mechanisms that can effectively protect whistleblowers by including new types of illegal acts such as improper solicitation, conflicts of interest, and fraudulent claims on public finances."
The amended ordinance expands the scope of public interest whistleblowing to include not only corruption reporting but also violations such as improper solicitation, conflicts of interest, and fraudulent claims on public finances. It also strengthens the legal basis for protecting and supporting whistleblowers by applying the relevant higher laws according to the type of report, and revises the provisions so that rewards and compensation are governed by individual laws depending on the type of whistleblowing.
Sungoh Lee stated, "Whistleblowing serves as a means of control that enhances administrative transparency and organizational integrity." He further emphasized, "By clearly establishing the grounds for reporting various types of illegal acts-such as corruption, improper solicitation, conflicts of interest, and financial misconduct-this amendment will play a crucial role in restoring accountability and increasing trust across the public sector."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
