'Protecting Their Own?'‥ Choi Chunsik, "Lee Jae-myung Gives Light Punishments Despite Repeated Civil Servant Misconduct"

7 Major Sexual Misconduct Cases... 86% Ended with 'Demotion' Punishment Only

National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee, Choi Chun-sik, Member of the People Power Party (Pocheon-si, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi) [Office of Member Choi Chun-sik]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-chul] Choi Chun-sik, a member of the National Assembly from the People Power Party representing Pocheon-si and Gapyeong-gun in Gyeonggi Province, stated on the 6th, "While Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province has ordered strict punishment applying a zero-tolerance principle toward public officials' misconduct, a total of 96 cases of misconduct by Gyeonggi Province public officials were detected during Lee's term, but the actual disciplinary actions were mere slap-on-the-wrist punishments."

According to data submitted to National Assembly Administrative Safety Committee member Choi Chun-sik by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government, the number of misconduct cases involving Gyeonggi public officials was 10 in 2018, 35 in 2019, 34 in 2020, and 17 as of the end of August 2021, totaling 96 cases.

By type of misconduct, damage to dignity accounted for the most with 28 cases (29%), followed by drunk driving with 18 cases (19%), neglect and dereliction of duty with 12 cases (13%), sexual misconduct with 7 cases (7%), and embezzlement and misuse of public funds with 7 cases (7%).

Disciplinary actions were as follows: dismissal 0 cases (0%), removal from office 5 cases (5%), demotion 7 cases (7%), suspension 25 cases (26%), pay reduction 27 cases (28%), and reprimand 32 cases (33%).

In particular, for the serious crime of sexual violence, punishments included 1 removal from office, 2 demotions, 3 suspensions, and 1 reprimand, with about 86% being 'demotion' or lower.

Assemblyman Choi Chun-sik criticized, "Gyeonggi Province issuing slap-on-the-wrist punishments to protect its own staff does not meet the public's expectations," and urged, "Disciplinary standards must be strengthened and effective measures promptly established to eradicate public officials' misconduct and establish public service discipline in Gyeonggi Province."

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