The Election Commission "Proceeding with the Cancellation of Appointment for Preferentially Hired Employees... Receiving Official Interpretation from the Personnel Authority"

"One High-Ranking Official's Child Resigns,
Dismissal Under Review for Ten Others"

Yonhap News

The National Election Commission has initiated the dismissal procedures for 11 children of high-ranking officials who have been excluded from their duties and are under investigation due to allegations of preferential hiring. Following the Personnel Innovation Office's legal interpretation issued the previous day stating that dismissal is possible, the Commission plans to proceed with the subsequent steps.

A Commission official told Asia Economy on the 20th, "We received an official letter from the Personnel Office yesterday confirming that dismissal of preferentially hired individuals is possible." He added, "After confirming the facts through the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit report and our own investigation, we will consider dismissal if there are procedural defects in the hiring process."

Previously, the Commission had requested a legal interpretation from the Personnel Office regarding the application of Article 45, Paragraph 3 of the State Public Officials Act, which allows cancellation of employment for those who passed the civil service exam despite misconduct. According to this provision, the head of the examination institution or the appointing authority may cancel the acceptance or appointment of a person who was hired or passed the exam due to misconduct for which a guilty verdict has been finalized, as defined by Presidential Decree.

The Commission had taken the position that immediate dismissal was difficult for employees hired before the enforcement date of this provision in December 2021. However, the Personnel Office responded that if the hiring was improper, dismissal is possible even for cases that occurred before the regulation's enforcement.

On the day, a Commission official stated, "One child of a high-ranking official involved in the recent preferential hiring controversy submitted a resignation letter and was processed as a voluntary resignation on the 18th." He added, "Based on the Personnel Office's legal interpretation, we will also review the dismissal of the other 10 individuals."

He continued, "After inquiring with the Board of Audit and Inspection and investigative agencies about any restrictions on resignation, we received confirmation that there were none, so there was no reason to refuse the resignation, and it was processed accordingly." He added, "The employee who was processed for resignation had a short length of service and is not eligible for pension benefits."

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