Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to Pay Over 300 Million Won in Whistleblower Relief Funds This Year... Largest Amount Nationwide

Cumulative Reward Money 217.3 Million Won

The above photo is not related to the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 9th that it spent 267.99 million KRW this year on relief funds for whistleblowers, marking the highest amount nationwide.

According to the public interest whistleblower protection administrative support work (2015~2020) announced by the Seoul Office of Education, the cumulative rewards over five years totaled 29 cases, and relief funds totaled 22 cases. The total amount was 217.3 million KRW in rewards and 291.27 million KRW in relief funds.

Relief funds cover expenses incurred due to damages or costs resulting from public interest whistleblowing, such as wage losses from unfair personnel actions, legal support fees for litigation related to restoration, and medical expenses for physical and mental treatment. Rewards are amounts recognized as public cooperation paid to those who bring financial benefits to educational institutions or prevent losses through whistleblowing.

The Seoul Office of Education explained, "Since the establishment of the Public Interest Whistleblower Center in 2016, trust in protection administration has strengthened, leading to an increasing trend in consultations and investigation requests."

Compared to other metropolitan and provincial offices of education, the Seoul Office of Education has a higher proportion of private schools, and most major whistleblowers are private school staff. Private schools often do not immediately correct personnel disadvantages imposed on whistleblowers despite the education office's corrective demands, increasing the demand for relief funds until restoration is achieved, thus raising the payment scale.

Specific whistleblowing cases include Private Kindergarten A, which reportedly embezzled about 55.76 million KRW by hiring the chairman's daughter as a corporate employee and paying her salary from the kindergarten's accounts. Another case involved Kindergarten B, which was reported to have paid about 51.3 million KRW from the accounts for a housekeeper's salary and water purifier fees at the founder's residence. Relief funds were paid for wage losses due to dismissal of principals and vice principals, unfair staff reassignments, litigation costs, and medical support.

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