South Korean Presidential Secretary Orders Crackdown on 'Former Official Privileges' in Public Institutions

Presidential Secretary Kang Hoon-sik has issued a strong directive to address the pervasive issue of 'former official privileges' (전관예우), which have long plagued public institutions and defrauded citizens. During a senior and advisory meeting, Kang highlighted the case of 'Doseonghoe,' an association of retired Korea Expressway Corporation employees, as a prime example of how such privileges are being abused. The group allegedly reaped excessive profits from operating highway rest stops, an activity far removed from their original purpose and a clear breach of public trust.

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Illegal and unfair former official privileges for public institution retirees have been harming the public for decades.

This directive comes in the wake of investigative reports by Hankyoreh21, which exposed how former officials from the Expressway Corporation had effectively taken control of a significant number of highway rest stops. Kang's firm stance underscores the administration's commitment to eradicating corrupt practices and ensuring that public resources are managed ethically and transparently. He has specifically instructed the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to promptly develop measures to prevent such abuses and ensure that highway rest stops operate based on principles and common sense.

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The case of 'Doseonghoe,' a group of Korea Expressway Corporation retirees, excessively profiting from operating highway rest stops, is an act that betrays the responsibilities of public institutions.

Furthermore, Kang has expanded the scope of the investigation to all public institutions, urging the Ministry of Economy and Finance to conduct a thorough review for similar cases. The call for recovering undue profits and referring illegal activities to investigative authorities signals a no-tolerance approach to corruption. In a related matter, Kang also directed the National Police Agency to implement a youth gambling self-reporting system nationwide, acknowledging the alarming statistic that approximately 157,000 teenagers, or 4% of the youth population, experienced illegal online gambling last year. This multi-pronged approach demonstrates a commitment to both tackling deep-rooted corruption and addressing emerging social issues.

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We must promptly establish measures to prevent former official privileges in the operation of highway rest stops, ensuring they are operated based on principles and common sense.