Busan Office of Education Awards 3 Million Won to Whistleblower Reporting Education Corruption

Busan Office of Education.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Trainee Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education has awarded a reward of 3 million won to a whistleblower who reported misconduct in the education field.

The whistleblowing concerns embezzlement at A Kindergarten, where a separate account was operated and part of the tuition fees received from parents was not transferred to the kindergarten's official accounting account.

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education’s ‘Whistleblower Protection Support Committee’ decided on the 23rd to award 3 million won to the whistleblower related to the ‘improper accounting management at A Kindergarten’ after deliberation.

The committee consists of a total of nine members: five external members including city councilors, lawyers, certified public accountants, and parents, and four internal members from the education office.

The committee deliberates and resolves matters related to whistleblower investigations, protection and support for whistleblowers, and reward payments.

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education plans to pay the reward to the whistleblower and, after conducting an audit on the kindergarten, imposed a severe disciplinary suspension on the director in July last year and ordered the recovery of 435 million won.

Prior to this, the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education has been promoting whistleblowing by implementing the ‘Ordinance on Handling Whistleblowing and Protection and Compensation of Whistleblowers in the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education’ since March 2020 and has also established and operated a ‘Whistleblowing Center.’

Lee Il-gwon, the Audit Officer of the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, stated, “We will create an environment where anyone can safely report whistleblowing without fear of identity exposure.”

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