Police's Second-Highest Rank Official Denied Airport CEO Job; 14 Post-Retirement Applications Rejected

A former senior police official, holding the rank of Chijang-gam, the second highest in the police hierarchy, has been denied approval to take on the role of president at the Korea Airports Corporation. The government's Public Service Ethics Committee made this decision, citing a conflict of interest between his previous responsibilities and the prospective position.

This case is part of a broader review of post-retirement employment for former public officials. The committee examined 85 applications, ultimately disapproving 14 and imposing employment restrictions on five others. Such restrictions are applied when a significant link exists between the official's work in their final five years of service and the new employer's business.

Lee Ho-young, who retired as the former deputy commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency in April, sought to take the helm at the Korea Airports Corporation. However, the ethics committee determined that his past duties were closely related to the airport corporation's operations, and no exceptional circumstances justified waiving this rule. Similarly, another high-ranking police official's application to become chairman of the Korea Shooting, Explosives and Safety Technology Association was also rejected.