Gas Corporation Faces Repeated Corruption Cases Despite Reduced Internal Audits... Controversy Over Lenient Punishments

Last Year, 22 Disciplinary Actions in 24 Internal Audits... Despite Uncovering In-House Private Organizations, Only 10 Related Personnel Received 'Light Punishments'

Exterior view of the Korea Gas Corporation headquarters located in Daegu.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongwook Park] Various large and small corruption incidents are occurring one after another at Korea Gas Corporation, a representative energy public enterprise.

Last year, despite the number of internal audits decreasing by 25% from 32 times to 24 times compared to the previous year due to the COVID-19 situation, the number of personnel who received disciplinary actions or warnings/cautions (personnel measures) increased by 16%, from 87 people (24 disciplinary actions) in the previous year to 101 people (22 disciplinary actions), reflecting a decline in discipline.

According to Korea Gas Corporation on the 2nd, the corporation conducted 24 internal audits last year and imposed disciplinary actions (reprimand or higher) on 22 people. The amount of financial measures (reductions or recoveries) reached 580 million won. The number of warnings and cautions not included in disciplinary actions was 94.

In 2019, the number of disciplinary personnel was 24, warnings and cautions not included in disciplinary actions were 86, and the amount of financial measures was 2.212 billion won.

Last year, disciplinary actions of reprimand or higher included 1 dismissal, 3 suspensions, 7 pay cuts, and 11 reprimands. Although the number of personnel was similar to the previous year (2019), severe disciplinary actions (suspension or higher) were limited to 4 people (8 people in 2019).

Regarding this decrease in severe disciplinary actions, there are criticisms that it is a result of protecting insiders due to lenient punishments related to personnel interventions by internal private organizations within the company last year.

The issue of internal private organizations within Korea Gas Corporation was revealed when Yang Geum-hee, a member of the People Power Party, raised it during the National Assembly audit. In October last year, Korea Gas Corporation audited the organization and concluded that it was a group with a specific purpose beyond simple socializing.

This organization, named 'Sujuhui,' was found to have included personnel from the secretary office deputy director position after CEO Chae Hee-bong newly took office. Despite these circumstances being revealed, personnel disciplinary actions against them were limited to light punishments such as 3 pay cuts, 3 reprimands, and 4 warnings.

Additionally, in November last year, a deputy manager at a regional headquarters was suspended for continuously sexually harassing a female employee in the same department, and incidents violating the dignity maintenance of Korea Gas Corporation have paradoxically increased since the announcement of the 'zero tolerance principle' in 2018.

According to the 'Status of Disciplinary Actions for Affiliated Employees' submitted by Korea Gas Corporation to Kwon Myung-ho, a member of the People Power Party, during last year's National Assembly audit, violations of the duty to maintain dignity such as sexual harassment increased significantly every year: 1 person in 2017, 7 people in 2018, and 10 people in 2019.

Since August 2018, Korea Gas Corporation has been applying a zero tolerance principle for the four major misconducts: bribery and entertainment acceptance, embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds, sexual harassment, and personnel-related misconduct, including no reduction in disciplinary measures, aggravated punishment, and demotion.

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