PCC Case No. 1... Allegations of 'Special Recruitment of Dismissed Teacher Jo Hee-yeon'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HCIC) on the 10th assigned the first case number to the allegations of improper special recruitment of dismissed teachers by Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, and has begun an investigation.

The HCIC announced that it assigned the case number '2021 Gongje 1' to Superintendent Cho's case on that day. This is the first since the HCIC was launched on January 21. Superintendent Cho is accused of instructing the relevant department to review and promote special recruitment of five dismissed teachers in July-August 2018, on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights.

Earlier, the Board of Audit and Inspection announced the audit results on the 23rd of last month, filed a complaint with the police for violation of the National Public Service Act, and also provided reference materials for investigation to the HCIC. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency assigned the case to its Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit, and the HCIC recently requested the police to transfer the case. The police handed over the case to the HCIC on the 4th in response to the transfer request.

The HCIC Act stipulates that when the HCIC Chief requests transfer to an agency conducting an overlapping investigation, the agency must comply. The superintendent is included among high-ranking officials subject to HCIC investigation. The charge of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights is also a high-ranking official crime that the HCIC can investigate.

Superintendent Cho denied the allegations, stating, "At that time, the special recruitment was one of the efforts for clearing past issues and reconciliation in the education sector," and "The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will request a re-examination of the Board of Audit and Inspection's disposition and will prove innocence to the investigative agencies." However, as the HCIC selected Superintendent Cho as its first investigation target, it is expected to proceed with compulsory investigations such as summons and search and seizure against him.

Regarding the HCIC's commencement of the investigation on that day, Superintendent Cho officially stated, "I believe the HCIC will make a balanced judgment, and I will actively clarify the institutional characteristics of the special recruitment and the absence of charges."

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