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Seoul City Hall Union Leader Arrested for Allegedly Taking Tens of Millions of Won for Job Placements

From Hankyoreh · (12m ago) Korean Critical tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The head of the Seoul City Hall labor union, affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), has been handed over to prosecutors on charges of accepting tens of millions of won in exchange for arranging job placements.
  • The union leader, identified as Mr. Ju, allegedly received 35 million won from two victims in 2023 to secure them positions as environmental public officials.
  • Police are investigating the case, with Mr. Ju reportedly claiming he has returned the money to the victims.

A shocking scandal has rocked the Seoul City Hall labor union, with its leader, Mr. Ju, being investigated for allegedly pocketing tens of millions of won by promising jobs. This betrayal of trust by a union official, who should be protecting workers' rights, is a grave concern for the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and its affiliates.

The Seoul City Hall labor union leader of the KCTU Public Service Union, Mr. Ju, was handed over to the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office on the 7th on charges of accepting bribes for arranging jobs and fraud.

— HankyorehReporting the charges against the union leader.

The allegations suggest that Mr. Ju exploited his position, accepting a substantial sum from desperate individuals seeking employment as environmental public officials. The fact that he allegedly took 35 million won from two victims, as reported by the Hankyoreh, points to a calculated act of deception.

He is accused of receiving 35 million won in 2023 to help secure employment as an environmental public official in the district where he was a union executive.

— HankyorehDetailing the alleged bribe amount and purpose.

While Mr. Ju reportedly claims to have returned the money, the police investigation is ongoing, with evidence of illicit dealings having been uncovered. This incident raises serious questions about the integrity and oversight within labor unions, particularly those representing public sector employees. The Hankyoreh will continue to follow this story closely, demanding accountability and transparency from all parties involved.

Mr. Ju allegedly received 25 million won from one victim and 10 million won from another.

— HankyorehSpecifying the amounts received from each victim.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.