Korea Anti-Corruption Commission: "Jo Seong-eun Recognized as Corruption and Public Interest Whistleblower... Personal Safety Protection" (Update)

"Meeting Whistleblower Requirements"... Request for Personal Protection Measures to Police

In relation to the 'alleged report solicitation' suspicion, Cho Seong-eun, the first whistleblower and public informant of this case, is seen leaving after completing a summons investigation at the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (Public Officials Corruption Investigation Office) at the Government Complex Gwacheon in Gyeonggi Province on the afternoon of the 27th of last month. (Image source=Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government announced on the 1st that it recognizes Jo Seong-eun, who reported the suspicion of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's 'prosecution scandal,' as a whistleblower on corruption and public interest.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) stated that Jo met the legal requirements of a whistleblower by submitting evidence of public interest violations and corrupt acts to the ACRC, the reporting agency under the 'Whistleblower Protection Act' and the 'Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Act.'

The ACRC explained that Jo's report met all whistleblower requirements, including ▲reporting through designated agencies (ACRC, investigative agencies, members of the National Assembly) (Whistleblower Protection Act Article 6), ▲reporting prohibited acts under 471 laws (Act Article 2), ▲fulfilling whistleblowing procedures and methods (Act Article 8), and ▲non-recognition if reported with false or fraudulent intent (Act Article 2).

Earlier, Jo reported the 'prosecution scandal' suspicion to the ACRC on the 13th of last month and on the 24th of the same month applied for whistleblower protection measures such as confirmation of confidentiality obligation violations by related parties, personal protection measures, prohibition of disadvantageous treatment against the applicant, and exemption from responsibility.

By finally recognizing Jo's status as a whistleblower, the legal effect of the confidentiality obligation is retroactively applied from the initial reporting date of the 13th of last month. Anyone who disclosed, leaked, or reported Jo's personal information without consent before the reporting date is subject to criminal punishment.

The ACRC also judged the necessity of personal protection and requested the relevant police station to provide personal protection measures for Jo. Jo claimed to be under personal threats such as address exposure, threats via social networking services (SNS), and online verbal abuse.

Jo can receive police protection for a certain period. Jo can be accompanied by police when attending or returning from investigative agencies, and regular patrols around the residence will be conducted within the scope recognized by the police.

Jo reported to a media outlet that in April last year, just before the general election while former Prosecutor General Yoon was in office, he received a complaint letter about ruling party figures from Kim Woong, a candidate of the Future United Party, and directly submitted it to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office civil complaints office. Subsequently, Jo raised additional circumstances regarding the 'prosecution scandal' suspicion through various media interviews and filed a defamation lawsuit against former Prosecutor General Yoon and Assemblyman Kim with the prosecution. Jo also consecutively filed whistleblower reports and applications for whistleblower protection measures with the ACRC.

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