"97% Employment Approval Rate for Retired National Assembly Officials... Coupang Tops the List"

CCEJ Analysis Results

An analysis has revealed that the company employing the largest number of former National Assembly officials over the past six years is Coupang, which was involved in a major personal data leak incident.

The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) announced the results of a comprehensive analysis of employment screenings for National Assembly retirees over the past six years on the morning of the 19th at the CCEJ auditorium in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Choi Youngchan

The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) held a press conference at its auditorium in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 19th, announcing the results of a comprehensive analysis of 438 employment screenings for National Assembly officials-including lawmakers, aides, and secretariat staff-conducted over the past six years from 2020 to this year.

According to the CCEJ analysis, 394 out of 405 employment restriction screenings for former National Assembly officials (97.28%) resulted in approval for employment. All 33 employment approval screenings were also passed. Among these 438 individuals, 251 (57.3%) were former National Assembly aides. Including 102 lawmakers (23.28%), a total of 80% were from lawmakers' offices.

The employment screening system for retired public officials is designed to determine whether there is a close connection between the duties of their previous department and the new organization when they seek reemployment after leaving public office. The purpose is to block improper collusion between public officials and private organizations. "Eligible for employment" is granted when the retired official seeks work at an organization unrelated to their previous duties, while "employment approval" is granted if there are special reasons, even when there is a connection to their prior work.

Among the employment destinations of former National Assembly officials, private companies accounted for 239 cases (54.57%), making up the majority. Of these, employment at major conglomerate affiliates such as Samsung, Hyundai, SK, and LG was the most common, with 126 cases (28.77%). This was followed by 113 cases (25.8%) at medium-sized and small private companies, 78 cases (17.81%) in the public sector, and 61 cases (13.93%) at professional service firms such as law firms.

In a further investigation of 130 employment screenings at conglomerate and medium-sized company affiliates, CCEJ found that most former National Assembly officials moved to Coupang (16 cases), followed by LG affiliates (11 cases), SK affiliates (10 cases), Samsung affiliates (9 cases), and KT affiliates (8 cases). CCEJ analyzed that companies with frequent regulatory and legislative issues tend to strategically recruit personnel with National Assembly backgrounds.

CCEJ called for institutional improvements, including: strengthening the review of job relevance considering the circumstances of the National Assembly; expanding the application of organizational work standards (including aides); tightening employment approval requirements; and making it mandatory to disclose specific reasons in the screening process.

CCEJ emphasized, "The National Assembly Public Officials Ethics Committee, which serves as the employment screening body, is effectively functioning as an employment approval issuer," adding, "There is concern that legislative networks and know-how may be used for private purposes, such as when a committee member who previously oversaw an agency as part of a standing committee moves to head that agency after retirement."