Parental leave controversy erupts over auditor of West Sea official case

A dispute over parental leave for a South Korean audit official has escalated into a political controversy, highlighting tensions surrounding investigations into past government actions. The official, identified only as 'A', was part of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) team that investigated a maritime incident during the Moon Jae-in administration.

'A' applied for six months of additional parental leave after a period of study abroad in the UK. However, the BAI denied the request, stating it did not meet the legal criteria of being "necessary for child-rearing." The ruling People Power Party condemned the decision, calling it an attempt to pressure public officials who conducted legitimate audits of the previous administration.

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Parental leave is a mandatory right that cannot be arbitrarily refused by the head of an agency. This is a behavior that squeezes the necks of public officials for legitimately conducting audits of the previous administration and effectively holds their children's upbringing hostage.

"Parental leave is a mandatory right that cannot be arbitrarily refused by the head of an agency," stated Park Seong-hoon, a senior spokesperson for the People Power Party. "This is a behavior that squeezes the necks of public officials for legitimately conducting audits of the previous administration and effectively holds their children's upbringing hostage."

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There is absolutely no intention to use parental leave to evade the investigation or stay abroad for a long time. I plan to return with my family in September after finishing my minor child's school life and organizing my residence and living relationships. The fact that I am under police investigation is not a reason for refusal of parental leave stipulated by the National Public Officials Act, etc.

The official, 'A', denied any intention to evade investigation or prolong his stay abroad, stating he planned to return with his family in September after finalizing his children's school and living arrangements. He also questioned whether his ongoing police investigation, which he claims he has not been formally requested to attend, influenced the BAI's decision.

The controversy is linked to the 2020 death of a South Korean fisheries official in North Korean waters. The Moon administration's Coast Guard concluded he had defected, but the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's Coast Guard reversed this finding in 2022, stating there was no evidence of defection. The BAI subsequently accused the Moon administration of concealing and manipulating the case, leading to 'A' and others being reported to the police for leaking military secrets.

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If information about the progress of the investigation and future investigation plans was provided to the BAI leadership without my consent, and that information was used in the decision to deny parental leave, the circumstances and legal grounds need to be confirmed.