Former FTC Officials Flock to Law Firms: 64% Join Law Firms After Inauguration of Current Administration [FTC Retirees Move to Law Firms]

Trends Over Six Years Since Introduction of the Reemployment History System

After the Inauguration of the Current Administration,

Law Firm Reemployment Surges, Centered on Mid-Level Staff

The trend of Fair Trade Commission (FTC) retirees being rehired by law firms has deepened since the inauguration of the Lee Jaemyung administration. Even mid-level staff members ranked Level 3 to 5, who were responsible for planning on-site investigations, are being recruited by law firms as "practical shields" in large numbers.

9 out of 14 Retirees Since the Current Administration Joined Law Firms

According to a comprehensive survey of 87 cases disclosed since the implementation of the FTC's "Retiree Reemployment History System" in 2019, 9 out of 14 individuals (64.3%) who reported reemployment after June last year, when the current administration took office, joined law firms. This represents an increase of approximately 11 percentage points compared to the cumulative law firm reemployment rate of 53.4% (39 out of 73) during the previous six years. Two each joined Kim & Chang and SHIN & KIM LLC, while one each joined Lee & Ko, Jipyong, Yulchon, Bae, Kim & Lee LLC, and Daeil-Aju. All seven law firms that recruited former FTC officials ranked in the top 10 by revenue last year. There were five cases of reemployment in non-law firm companies, with one each joining Coupang, Coupang Pay, Taekwang Industrial, Woowa Brothers, and Kia.

The trend toward large law firms is also evident in the overall data since the reemployment history system was introduced. Over the past six years, Kim & Chang recruited 10 individuals, topping the list. Lee & Ko followed with 6, and Daeil-Aju was third with 5. SHIN & KIM LLC, Jipyong, and SEJONG each recruited 4, tying for fourth place. These six law firms accounted for 33 rehires, or 37.9% of all FTC retirees who found new jobs over the six-year period.

Proportion of Mid-level Staff Hired Rises from 52% to 64%

By rank, 9 out of 14 (64.3%) of those reemployed since the current administration were Level 3 to 5 employees (Deputy Director General, Director, Deputy Director)—the backbone and main workforce of the FTC. This is more than 10 percentage points higher than the cumulative proportion of 52.1% (38 out of 73) from the previous period. During the same period, 4 high-ranking officials (Deputy Chairperson and Standing Members, Level 1 or higher) accounted for 28.6%, while only 1 below Level 5 (7.1%) reported reemployment. The proportion of high-ranking officials remained similar to previous years, while the share of those below Level 5 fell by about 10 percentage points.

Since the start of the Lee Jaemyung administration, the push for greater corporate governance transparency—including major cartel investigations—has increased the demand for risk management by law firms. While top FTC officials (Level 1–2) serve as the "faces" of law firms, mid-level staff with the most hands-on experience are increasingly being recruited as core members of law firms’ fair trade groups or as key personnel in companies. There are frequent cases where staff who designed and led investigations just days before retirement now become shields for law firms and companies, facing off against their former colleagues.

The FTC's "Retiree Reemployment History System" was introduced in 2019 in response to the so-called "rehiring corruption scandal," where senior officials exerted undue pressure to place retirees in large companies. In addition to the government Public Service Ethics Committee regulations, which require prior review if a retiree seeks employment at a restricted institution within three years of retirement, the FTC applies dual oversight by disclosing these cases itself. As a result, those rehired by restricted institutions and affiliates within 10 years of retirement must report this to the FTC, and their employment history is regularly released on the FTC website. Retirees who fail to notify the FTC of their employment are strictly barred from entering the FTC premises.

Nevertheless, some point out that the FTC has effectively become a "job placement window" for law firms. In response, the FTC stated, "We conduct rigorous reviews through the Public Service Ethics Committee, and the proportion of retirees subject to review is less than half of all retirees." The Commission also said, "In 2018, we were the first government agency to introduce the 'external contact management system,' actively blocking the possibility that retirees might exert undue influence in the case-handling process."

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