[2021 National Audit] Promised Protection for Whistleblowers... Only 15.9 Million Won in Litigation Support Over 10 Years

Hong Seong-guk "Fundamental Measures Including Litigation Expense Support Needed"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), the main government agency responsible for protecting whistleblowers, has been revealed to have spent only 15.9 million KRW on litigation support costs over the past 10 years.

According to data received on the 8th from the ACRC by Hong Seong-guk, a member of the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, the ACRC paid a total of 15,913,334 KRW in litigation support funds related to whistleblowing disputes over the 10 years since the introduction of the whistleblower relief fund system in 2011. The payments were made for six cases.

It is pointed out that the relief funds for costs arising from whistleblowing?such as ▲physical and mental treatment expenses ▲relocation costs due to job transfer or secondment ▲litigation procedure costs ▲and lost wages?were not properly provided.

They paid 9.08 million KRW (2 cases) for litigation costs related to restoring disadvantages and 6.833334 million KRW (4 cases) for other litigation costs. Even considering that until last April, when the support scope was expanded to cover "all litigation due to whistleblowing," only litigation costs related to restoration were supported, Hong argued that the amount was still low.

Aside from litigation costs, the total amount paid over 10 years was only 29.189 million KRW (18 cases). No payments were made in 2011, the year the system was introduced, or in 2015.

Compared to the number of reports received and the performance in compensation and rewards disclosed by the ACRC, there are criticisms that actual litigation support for whistleblowers is insufficient.

Last month, the ACRC held a briefing titled "10 Years of the Whistleblower Protection Act: Achievements and Challenges," stating, "Over 13.76 million whistleblower reports have been received in 10 years, and compensation, rewards, or relief funds for whistleblowers have totaled 10.45 billion KRW," but did not separately mention the scale of relief fund payments.

Assemblyman Hong said, "While whistleblowers suffer various disadvantages, legal battles, and economic losses as the price of justice and courage, the ACRC's help must have been desperately needed," emphasizing, "Fundamental measures must be prepared to revitalize the whistleblower relief fund system, including support for litigation costs."

In response, the ACRC stated, "With the amendment and enforcement of the Whistleblower Protection Act this October, the support scope will be expanded not only to litigation costs related to restoration but also to false accusations and defamation," adding, "We will strengthen promotion of the relief fund system to ensure more whistleblowers can receive support."

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