The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials conducted searches and seizures on the 24th in connection with allegations that former Prosecutor General Sim U-jeong exerted influence for the "preferential hiring of her daughter."
The CIO's Third Investigation Division (led by Director General Lee Dae-hwan) carried out searches and seizures that morning at Sim's residence, Acro Vista in Seocho-gu, Seoul; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul; and the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seocho-gu.
Sim is suspected of exerting influence so that her daughter, Ms. A, would be hired for a researcher position at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through improper means despite not meeting the qualifications. Ms. A was a "prospective master's degree holder" but reportedly passed a hiring process that required a master's degree. There are also allegations that the eligibility field was changed from the existing economics field to international politics, Ms. A's major, and reannounced.
Meanwhile, according to the Labor Ministry on the 10th, the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office determined that the Korea National Diplomatic Academy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs committed violations of the "Recruitment Procedures Act" in connection with the alleged preferential hiring of Ms. A. The labor office said that even though many applicants held master's degrees, there was no unavoidable reason to change the eligibility to include "prospective master's degree holders" like Ms. A. However, the labor office said that no physical evidence, testimony, or circumstantial evidence was found of hiring-related orders or pressure by Park Cheol-hee, then-president of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy.
Meanwhile, Sim's side is said to maintain that the daughter went through a normal hiring process and that there was no preferential treatment in the process. Earlier, as controversy grew over the allegations, Sim issued a statement through the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office in March, expressing regret over what Sim called "groundless claims" and saying, "The prosecutor general's eldest daughter was hired as a researcher at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy through fair and transparent procedures in accordance with the hiring notice." Sim also said the matter had been explained and vetted during the confirmation hearing for the prosecutor general.