Solicitation for Specific Candidates in Daegu Buk-gu District Office Environmental Public Servant Recruitment... Uri Welfare Citizens Union Urges Thorough Investigation

Uri Welfare Citizens Union, a civic group based in Daegu, issued a statement on the 29th urging authorities to "thoroughly investigate the hiring corruption involving environmental public servants at the Buk-gu District Office in Daegu."

According to Uri Welfare Citizens Union, the police recently conducted searches at six local councils, including the Daegu Metropolitan Council, as part of an investigation into allegations of irregularities related to overseas training. In addition, the police reportedly raided the Buk-gu District Office in Daegu to investigate suspicions of corruption in the hiring of environmental public servants. The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Division of the Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency booked four senior officials from the Resource Circulation Division of the Buk-gu District Office on charges of soliciting the selection of a specific individual during the environmental public servant recruitment process, which took place from September to November last year, and conducted a search and seizure. The police stated that they believe two out of the five successful candidates at the time were involved in the hiring corruption and announced plans to expand the investigation.

Uri Welfare Citizens Union

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Uri Welfare Citizens Union stated, "Last year, 52 people applied for five positions in the Buk-gu District Office environmental public servant recruitment. After document and physical fitness screenings, a senior official allegedly solicited the hiring of two specific individuals before the interview stage. The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, which had previously received a report about the hiring corruption, conducted an on-site investigation in March of this year and requested a formal investigation in April. The police then booked four officials from the Resource Circulation Division of the Buk-gu District Office on charges of violating the Act on Prohibition of Improper Solicitation and Graft. However, the Buk-gu District Office reportedly denied all allegations."

Uri Welfare Citizens Union added, "Although recruitment screening has improved compared to the past, with a focus on job competency and exclusion of bias and discrimination based on age, gender, education, or region, corruption in the recruitment of public servants and similar positions continues to occur frequently. Therefore, there is sufficient possibility that, despite recruitment procedure regulations, improper solicitations could have led to favoritism in the Buk-gu District Office hiring corruption case."

Uri Welfare Citizens Union further demanded, "We urge the police to conduct a swift and thorough investigation to reveal the full truth about the hiring corruption and to strictly punish those involved." The group also called on the Buk-gu District Office to "implement special measures to eradicate hiring corruption, such as excluding public officials from interview panels, in order to eliminate all external pressure and improper solicitations."

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