Internal Crackdown at December 31 Parliamentary Hearing
Fair Trade Commission Warns of Disciplinary Action for Unreported Contact with Former Employees
Kim Younghoon, Minister of Employment and Labor, warned ministry officials, "If you are found to have contacted former employees who moved to Coupang, be prepared to face severe consequences."
On December 31, during a parliamentary hearing titled "Hearing on Coupang's Security Breach, Personal Information Leak, Unfair Trade Practices, Labor Conditions, and Measures to Prevent Recurrence," Minister Kim responded to a question from Assemblywoman Jeong Hyekyung of the Progressive Party regarding lobbying by former public officials who joined Coupang. He stated, "It has been identified that Coupang recruited a group of grade 5 and 6 officials from six regional offices of the Ministry of Employment and Labor just before the last presidential election," and added that he had issued such instructions to internal staff.
Assemblywoman Jeong also questioned the Fair Trade Commission, saying, "A director-level official at the Fair Trade Commission moved to Coupang as an executive just four months after retirement. If these government affairs managers actually exert influence through lobbying, doesn't this create a structure where it is difficult to impose business suspensions on Coupang?"
In response, Joo Byungki, Chairperson of the Fair Trade Commission, emphasized, "If there is any contact or phone call with a former Fair Trade Commission employee that is not reported, disciplinary action will be taken," adding, "We have also strengthened disciplinary regulations to ensure strict organizational discipline."
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