Demanding Duplicate Data in This Situation?... Integrated Union Condemns Lawmakers Requesting Duplicate Data

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The National Integrated Public Officials Labor Union (Chairman Lee Chung-jae, photo) issued a statement on the 14th condemning a member of the National Assembly (Lee Jong-bae of the United Future Party) who demanded the submission of duplicate data by the day after the election, disregarding the hard work of public officials who are managing COVID-19 prevention and control as well as preparations for the 21st general election. The union also urged the newly formed 21st National Assembly to implement institutional reforms.

In the statement, the Integrated Union said, “Recently, local government officials nationwide have been working tirelessly not only to respond to infectious diseases but also to handle election duties,” adding, “Despite this situation, there is a member of the National Assembly who is demanding duplicate data and notifying officials to submit it by the day after the election, leaving local government officials aghast.”

This lawmaker is reportedly requesting all lecture fee data paid by local governments over the past five years. This data had already attracted attention in news reports at the end of last year and was known to be duplicate data requested by many lawmakers.

The Integrated Union condemned the lawmaker’s behavior, stating, “If this lawmaker does not have any malicious intent, this is truly a thoughtless demand.” They strongly urged, “The newly formed 21st National Assembly must establish a data-sharing system and prepare fundamental institutional reforms.”

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(Statement) Condemning a lawmaker who exhausts public officials by demanding duplicate data even in this crisis and urging fundamental institutional reforms

It is widely known that public officials nationwide have been working tirelessly on COVID-19 prevention and control activities. Internationally, South Korea’s prevention and control efforts have received high marks. Leading global media outlets have introduced South Korea’s infectious disease prevention and control activities, even praising them as a textbook example of infectious disease response. While these achievements owe much to the community-minded spirit of the Korean people, there is no doubt that the dedicated efforts of public officials working day and night have greatly contributed.

Recently, local government officials nationwide have been working tirelessly not only to respond to infectious diseases but also to handle election duties. In preparation for the 21st National Assembly election, they have been diligently preparing election tasks. With the voting day approaching, they are doing their best amid tension to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while ensuring the election proceeds smoothly.

However, even in this situation, there is a member of the National Assembly (Lee Jong-bae of the United Future Party) who is demanding duplicate data and notifying officials to submit it by the day after the election, leaving local government officials aghast.

This lawmaker is requesting all lecture fee data paid by local governments over the past five years. This data was already reported by the media at the end of last year and has been submitted multiple times due to numerous requests from many lawmakers. Nevertheless, this lawmaker, fully aware of the hectic situation of local government officials busy with election duties, is again pressuring them to submit such data. If there is no malicious intent, this is truly a thoughtless demand. We are outraged by this lawmaker’s insensitive attitude of demanding duplicate data in this crisis and strongly condemn it.

We cannot help but demand fundamental institutional reforms from the 21st National Assembly, which will be newly formed through this election. Until now, individual lawmakers have repeatedly requested numerous duplicate data from local governments. Even though oversight of state affairs is the National Assembly’s fundamental role, wasting public officials’ time and effort with numerous duplicate data requests is highly unreasonable. We strongly urge the 21st National Assembly to establish a data-sharing system within the Assembly to thoroughly reduce administrative waste.

April 14, 2020

National Integrated Public Officials Labor Union

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.