The Government Public Officials Ethics Committee (the ethics committee) put the brakes on two Financial Supervisory Service employees who sought to take board seats at Coupang after leaving public service.
The Ministry of Personnel Management's ethics committee on the 30th released the results of employment screenings for a total of 77 retired public officials, including this matter. Of the 77, 14 were notified of "employment disapproval," and 12 were notified of "employment restriction." Under the Public Service Ethics Act, grade-4 and above public officials, executives of public institutions, and certain employees of specific public institutions must undergo a prior employment screening if they seek jobs at screened institutions within three years of retirement.
Looking at the key screening results, a grade-3 employee and a grade-4 employee at the FSS left in December last year and April, respectively, and tried to be rehired as Coupang directors. However, the ethics committee notified them of an "employment restriction." If the duties of the department or agency to which a person belonged during the five years before retirement are closely related to the duties of the prospective employer, the ethics committee issues an "employment restriction." In that case, the person subject to restriction can organize the details of their work while in public office and reapply for approval.
Kim Mi-young, a former deputy governor who had been an executive at the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), sought to move to president of the Korea Credit Information Services but received an "employment disapproval" notice. Employment disapproval is a decision issued when the statutory grounds for employment approval are not met. The Public Service Ethics Act lists cases in which employment is necessary for strengthening the nation's international competitiveness and for the public interest as grounds for approval.
Three senior special-appointee public officials from the presidential office all received notices of "eligible for employment." They can be reemployed as an attorney at YulChon Law Firm, an outside director at TV CHOSUN Media Rep, and Director General of the news division at Money Today Broadcasting.
The ethics committee asked the competent courts to impose fines on six people who, despite being subject to screening, took jobs on their own without undergoing the committee's prior review.