Sancheong Senior Official Severely Disciplined for Alleged Power Harassment ... Demoted from Level-5 Officer to Level-6 Officer

Sancheong County Office, Gyeongnam. Provided by Sancheong County

A senior official of Sancheong County in South Gyeongsang Province, who was accused of abusing power by verbally abusing staff members, has received a severe disciplinary action.

According to the Sancheong County branch of the National Government Employees' Union Gyeongnam Headquarters on December 22, the personnel committee of South Gyeongsang Province recently decided to demote official A, a senior official of Sancheong County, and notified the county of this decision.

Demotion is classified as a severe disciplinary action for public officials, along with dismissal and removal from office.

As a result of this action, official A will be demoted from a level-5 local administrative officer to a level-6 local administrative officer.

Lee Gyupil, head of the Sancheong branch of the National Government Employees' Union Gyeongnam Headquarters, is holding a solo protest in front of the Gyeongnam Provincial Government building entrance, demanding a reinvestigation and severe disciplinary action regarding the power abuse case involving senior officials of Sancheong County. Provided by the National Government Employees' Union Gyeongnam Headquarters

According to the union, while serving as the head of Sancheong-eup, official A allegedly insulted staff in front of all employees by saying, "You really can't do your job," made derogatory remarks toward county staff in front of civil petitioners, threatened, "I will crush you when I come to work," made disparaging comments about families, pressured employees to resign or transfer, and demanded that female employees provide hospitality in the office-actions that constitute so-called "gapjil," or power harassment.

Upon receiving a report from the union, Sancheong County removed official A from his position as head of Sancheong-eup and placed him on standby within one day, and requested the personnel committee of South Gyeongsang Province to impose a minor disciplinary action such as a warning or a pay cut.

In response, the union criticized this as a "slap on the wrist" and called for the county to halt its push for minor disciplinary action, instead demanding severe disciplinary action against official A through solo protests, press conferences, and the submission of petitions.

The county plans to soon carry out the disciplinary action against official A and implement follow-up personnel measures.