Seoul City Council People Power Party Representative Choi Ho-jeong Proposes Ordinance on Protection and Support for Civil Servants Handling Civil Complaints

Choi Hojung CEO "Public officials must be able to perform duties for citizens in a safe working environment"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On the 22nd, Choi Ho-jeong, the representative member of the People Power Party in the Seoul Metropolitan Council, jointly proposed the Seoul Metropolitan Ordinance on the Protection and Support of Civil Service Officers Performing Civil Complaint Duties, which includes the protection and support of civil service officers suffering mental and physical damage due to malicious complaints, together with 74 other members of the People Power Party.

The ordinance defines terms such as civil complaint duties, performing civil service officers, assault, and verbal abuse, and stipulates the mayor's responsibility for the protection and support of civil service officers performing civil complaint duties.

It imposes obligations on department heads to create a safe working environment for civil servants and specifies support measures such as medical expenses, psychological and legal counseling, and rest for affected civil servants, ensuring that civil service officers performing civil complaint duties in the field can receive practical protection.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, illegal acts by complainants such as verbal abuse, swearing, threats, assault, and sexual harassment have been increasing annually, and there have been consistent criticisms regarding the lack of institutional protective measures.

In response, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has also allowed local government heads to establish autonomous regulations for protective measures for civil complaint handlers through amendments to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Handling of Civil Complaints to improve damage caused by malicious complaints.

Representative Choi Ho-jeong stated, “Cases where civil service officers performing civil complaint duties suffer mental and physical damage due to verbal abuse and assault by complainants continue without end,” and added, “While civil servants are dedicated to fulfilling their responsibilities and duties as servants to the citizens, they must also be able to work with respect.”

He also said, “I hope that through this ordinance, civil service officers performing civil complaint duties can faithfully carry out their work for citizens in a safe working environment,” and “Furthermore, efforts to spread a culture of mutual respect between civil servants and complainants are also necessary.”

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