A inspector of the Korean National Police Agency retired in Nov. and sought to take a job as a Director General at Coupang in Jan. next year, but the Ministry of Personnel Management's employment review put the brakes on it. The ministry said it was related to the work done immediately before and concluded that employment would be possible after three years.
The Ministry of Personnel Management on Dec. 31 released the results of the December retired public officials' employment review and stated accordingly. Of a total of 76 reviews, seven were restricted from employment and one was disapproved for employment.
Employment restriction applies when a close connection is found between the work of the department or agency to which the reviewee belonged during the five years before retirement and the prospective employer, allowing employment after three years. A inspector A, who belonged to the Korean National Police Agency, also received this determination, derailing the plan to start work in Jan. next year.
Including A, those who received employment restriction determinations included six from the Korean National Police Agency and one from the Ministry of National Defense. Two inspectors and three inspectors from the Korean National Police Agency attempted to move to Kim & Chang as prospective attorneys but were stopped. A Navy colonel from the Ministry of National Defense was restricted from taking a job at the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ).
The case that received employment disapproval involved a senior researcher at the Agency for Defense Development (ADD). The person underwent a review to take a position as a contract employee at Poongsan's defense technology research institute but was disapproved. The duties to be performed at the prospective employer were related to the work handled while in public office, and the case did not fall under any special reasons under the law to approve employment.
Yeon Won-jung, former head of the Ministry of Personnel Management who left office on Jul. 7, also underwent an employment review this time. The person received a notification of eligibility for employment as an adviser at KonaM Co., Ltd., a manufacturer located in Jincheon County, North Chungcheong.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Personnel Management asked the competent courts to impose fines in four cases where individuals subject to employment review took jobs without undergoing the Government Public Officials Ethics Committee's prior employment review.
Separately, the Ministry of Personnel Management finalized the list of agencies subject to employment review next year at 26,285. When a retired public official seeks employment at such agencies, the ministry reviews and decides whether there is a close connection with the duties performed while in public service. Detailed information on agencies subject to employment review can be found on the Korea Electronic Official Gazette and the Public Service Ethics System websites.