Gyeongnam Public Officials Union: "Stop Forcing Officials to Attend Pro-Government and Organizational Workshops and Outings"

The Gyeongnam Regional Headquarters of the National Public Officials Union has called for an end to the forced mobilization of local public officials to various events organized by groups and organizations related to their work.

On January 22, the Gyeongnam branch of the National Public Officials Union held a press conference at the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Press Center, demanding, "City and county governments must stop forcing local public officials to participate in outings, workshops, and field trips organized by pro-government and affiliated organizations linked to municipal work."

On this day, the union announced the results of a "Survey on Public Officials' Participation in Township and Neighborhood Organization Workshops and Outings," which was conducted online for five days starting December 8 last year, and reiterated these demands.

A total of 220 union members working at township and neighborhood community centers in 16 local governments across the province participated in the survey.

The National Public Officials Union Gyeongnam Branch is holding a press conference urging the cessation of forced mobilization of public officials to government-affiliated organizations' and groups' outings and workshops. Photo by Lee Seryung

According to the union, over 80% of survey participants reported having attended such events once or twice in the past year, and nearly 20% said they had participated three or four times.

The majority of respondents had less than 10 years of service, and 7 out of 10 said they had been forcibly mobilized to organizational outings and similar events.

About 75% of respondents said they participated in these events without paying out-of-pocket, with the costs covered by the organizations, and approximately 82% reported witnessing or directly experiencing drinking and singing or dancing on buses during these events.

The union stated, "The mobilized public officials mostly participated as official trips outside the office on weekdays, and on holidays, they used their personal leave without any special work arrangements. There were also cases where they participated on weekdays without any formal work arrangements."

They further claimed, "Public officials who attended organizational outings were made to serve alcohol to group members, were forced to drink and sing or dance on tour buses, and there were even incidents of sexual harassment."

The union emphasized, "Forced mobilization is a serious violation of the labor and human rights of public officials and is a recurring problem of illegal and expedient administration. Is it normal administration for public officials, who are supposed to uphold the law and principles, to be forced into situations where they may violate the law?"

Kang Sudong, head of the National Public Officials Labor Union Gyeongnam Branch, is urging the cessation of forced mobilization of public officials to government-affiliated organizations and organizational events. Photo by Lee Seryung

The union pointed out that forcing public officials, who are prohibited from receiving money or valuables in connection with their duties, to attend outings and group events and covering their expenses constitutes a violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

They explained that even if the public officials are related to the work, events for socializing or tourism cannot be treated as official business trips.

They added that even for official events, expenses such as meals, transportation, and accommodation should be paid from the official travel budget, not from the organization's budget, and that for unofficial events, officials should use their personal leave and cover the costs themselves.

Kang Soodong, head of the Gyeongnam branch, emphasized, "Forced mobilization without the individual's consent constitutes an unfair order and amounts to workplace harassment."

He added, "The Gyeongnam branch will send official documents to the governor, mayors, and county heads prohibiting the forced mobilization of public officials to events and outings organized by affiliated organizations, and will push for guidelines to have the organizations manage their own events or issue instructions banning the mobilization of public officials. We will also specify this in collective agreements with the governor, mayors, and county heads to put an end to this harmful practice."