Hyundai Engine Defect Whistleblower Instructor Kim Kwang-ho "Reported for Customer-First Value"

Instructor Kim to Give Special Lecture to Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Investigators on the 11th

Kim Kwang-ho, a public interest whistleblower recognized in both Korea and the United States and a specialist lecturer in integrity education at the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, giving a special invited lecture titled "Lonely Decisions and Half Success" to investigators of the Commission via video at the Government Complex Sejong on the 11th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok]

"I made a public interest report to break the illegal work practices related to recalls that the company (Hyundai Motor Company) has carried out so far and to establish a culture that truly realizes the value of 'customer first.'"

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) announced on the 12th that instructor Kim Kwang-ho, recognized as a whistleblower on Hyundai Motor engine defects in both Korea and the United States, gave a special lecture to ACRC investigators at the Government Complex Sejong on the 11th. Instructor Kim is active as a professional lecturer on integrity education at the ACRC.

According to the ACRC, Kim made a public interest report in 2016 regarding suspicions of concealment of Hyundai engine defects, which led to the first and largest forced recall of approximately 230,000 vehicles in history and improvements in recall-related regulations under the Automobile Management Act. At the end of last year, Kim received a whistleblower reward of 24.3 million USD (approximately 28.9 billion KRW) in the United States.

Instructor Kim explained the background and detailed contents of the public interest report, as well as the hardships experienced after reporting, under the theme of "A Lonely Decision and Half a Success." He emphasized the significance of whistleblowing from the perspective of the person involved and the importance of protection and support for whistleblowers. Kim stated, "I consulted colleagues within the company to resolve the issue, but there was a culture forcing employees into illegal practices with the absurd logic that it was 'tax avoidance, not tax evasion.'" He added, "According to Article 31, Paragraph 1 of the Automobile Management Act, the fact must be disclosed and corrective measures taken, and if a defect is found, it is mandatory to report to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport within 30 days and notify the vehicle owners."

Kim revealed the reason for his public interest report, saying, "I made the report hoping it would be a good opportunity to establish a culture that realizes the core value of 'customer first' and transform Hyundai into a beloved and respected national car company."

He presented legal and ethical requirements and ten behavioral guidelines to be observed for a "successful public interest report" and suggested directions the ACRC should take to support whistleblowers, including improvements to the reward system. Kim also expressed his ambition to continue helping whistleblowers and contributing to the realization of a clean society through his activities as a professional integrity education lecturer and the establishment of an automobile manufacturing defect research institute.

Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the ACRC, emphasized, "The various hardships that Instructor Kim experienced as a whistleblower are challenges that the ACRC must improve." She added, "We will take Kim's case as a lesson that the treatment and rewards for whistleblowers were insufficient and actively reflect the contents of his lecture in our work."

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