Leading NEC officials resign over nepotistic hiring allegations

Politics

Published: 25 May. 2023, 15:25 Updated: 25 May. 2023, 17:17

Leading NEC officials resign over nepotistic hiring allegations

National Election Commission Secretary General Park Chan-jin takes questions from lawmakers of the public administration committee at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on May 16. [NEWS1]

The secretary general and the deputy chief of the National Election Commission (NEC) stepped down Thursday over allegations of preferential treatment in the hiring process of their children.

Park Chan-jin, NEC's secretary general, and Song Bong-seop, deputy secretary general, resigned after allegations that their daughters had been unfairly hired to work at the NEC's regional offices.

The NEC said in a statement that Park and Song "humbly accepted the public criticisms that have been raised as heads of the secretariat and resigned, taking moral responsibility for the current situation regardless of the results of the ongoing special audit."

It said that the election watchdog held an emergency meeting earlier that day to discuss the matter and felt "deep responsibility for causing great disappointment and concern to the public" due to allegations of preferential treatment in the hiring of children of high-ranking officials.

Earlier this month, local media outlets reported that Park's daughter was employed as a civil servant to work at the NEC's local office in Nam District in Gwangju in 2022 and Song's daughter was hired to work at an office in Boryeong City, South Chungcheong, in 2018.

This led to accusations that they were hired using so-called "dad's chance," referring to favors given to the offspring of children due to the influence of their powerful fathers.

The NEC initially denied there had been any preferential treatment but launched a special internal audit as the controversy brewed.

Park likewise denied the allegations but during a parliamentary hearing on May 16 told lawmakers at the National Assembly's public administration committee that he would "take responsibility" and resign if the allegations proved to be true.

Regardless of the resignations of Park and Song, the NEC also plans to confirm whether there were any other irregular hires of former and incumbent public officials through its own special audit and internal investigations currently underway.

It said it plans to take "all reasonable measures, such as disciplinary action," should any irregularities be found.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]