Kim Yong-jin, National Pension Service Chairman, Apologizes to the Public for Employee Marijuana Incident... Announces Reform Measures

Feeling sorrow and responsibility as head of the agency... "Will strengthen expulsion criteria"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] On the 20th, Kim Yong-jin, Chairman of the National Pension Service (NPS), expressed his apology and promised to prepare reform measures to restore trust through a public statement regarding the marijuana incident involving fund management staff.

In the statement, Chairman Kim said, "Recently, an unacceptable incident occurred where employees of the Fund Management Headquarters smoked marijuana," adding, "The NPS is a public institution that manages the precious assets of the people and is responsible for their retirement, but instead of reassuring the public, we caused disappointment and concern, destroying the trust we had painstakingly built in an instant."

He said, "As the head representing the institution, I feel deep sorrow and a heavy sense of responsibility," and "On behalf of the NPS executives and staff, I sincerely apologize to the public."

Chairman Kim emphasized, "The NPS fully recognizes the seriousness of this matter," and "We will not dismiss it as a mere personal deviation but willingly accept the stern criticism of the public and use this as an opportunity to reform the institution."

He added, "Many are worried whether other corrupt practices might be growing within the NPS due to this incident," and "We will thoroughly examine all aspects of operations, including organization and personnel management, work processes, operational systems, and organizational culture?from asset management to pension system operation?to identify problems and establish fundamental reform measures and implement them."

He promised, "For deviations and illegal acts that cannot be tolerated by public sentiment, we will strengthen dismissal criteria and apply strict punishment and a zero-tolerance policy."

Chairman Kim said, "I apologize once again for causing disappointment and concern at a time when many citizens are suffering due to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19)," and added, "We will do our best to become the best institution trusted by the public through ethical and transparent management."

The Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency has booked four employees of the NPS Fund Management Headquarters without detention on charges of smoking marijuana (violation of the Narcotics Control Act). They were dismissed on the 9th following the decision of the NPS disciplinary committee.

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