'Isangmin Dismissal Referendum' Jeonggongno Referred for Violation of National Public Service Act

Chairman Jeon Ho-il speaking [Photo by Yonhap News]

The executive committee of the Korean Government Employees' Union (Jeongongno) was referred to the prosecution on charges of holding a vote for and against government policies, including the dismissal of Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min.

According to the police on the 4th, the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency sent four members of Jeongongno's executive committee, including Chairman Jeon Ho-il, to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office on the 25th of last month for violating the National Public Officials Act.

Jeongongno is accused of violating the prohibition on collective actions stipulated in Article 66 of the National Public Officials Act by conducting a vote among union members from November 22 to 24 last year on seven policies promoted by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, including minimum wage and social service privatization. At that time, Jeongongno also put to vote the dismissal and punishment of Minister Lee in relation to the Itaewon tragedy. About 38,000 union members participated, with 80-90% expressing critical opinions of the government on all items.

The police judged that such actions by Jeongongno were prohibited collective acts rather than legitimate union activities.

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