Gyeonggi Province Awards 43.25 Million Won in Rewards to 156 Public Interest Whistleblowers
Suwon NewsPublished 2019.11.12 06:15
Targeting illegal acts that harm public interest in environment, health, and safetyCases include illegal waste management, lax hygiene at livestock processing facilities, and unlawful labeling of animal feed components
[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hoon] A total of 43.25 million won in rewards will be paid to 156 public interest whistleblowers who reported illegal acts that harm residents' environment, health, and safety.
Gyeonggi Province announced on the 12th that it made this decision at the fourth 2019 Gyeonggi Province Public Interest Whistleblower Committee meeting held on the 7th to promote public interest reporting.
Since entering the 7th popularly elected administration, the province amended the 'Gyeonggi Province Public Interest Whistleblower Protection and Support Ordinance' and has been paying rewards by discovering cases of reporting illegal acts that harm residents' environment, health, and safety.
At the committee meeting, it was decided to award 1 million won to a person who reported a company illegally managing waste and causing damage to nearby residents, and 600,000 won to a person who reported a livestock processing facility that neglected hygiene management and compromised food safety.
Additionally, 500,000 won will be awarded to a person who reported a company that sold animal feed without registering its components, and 400,000 won to a person who reported a company that neglected the management of hazardous materials storage and handling facilities.
Along with this, the Auditor's Office conducted investigations into reports of civil servant corruption, and decided to award 500,000 to 1 million won respectively to informants on three cases in which civil servants provided preferential treatment to illegal actors or resulted in budget waste.
In addition, 400,000 won will be awarded to a person who reported a company that failed to issue a construction equipment rental payment guarantee certificate, 100,000 won to a person who reported a multi-use business establishment that illegally altered its interior structure, and 50,000 won to a person who reported a business that failed to indicate the country of origin of agricultural and aquatic products.
The committee stated that the actions of the reported parties correspond to acts that harm public interest as stipulated in the 'Public Interest Whistleblower Protection Act'.
Since January this year, the province has established a dedicated reporting channel for public interest whistleblowing, 'Gyeonggi Province Public Interest Whistleblower Hotline - Fair Gyeonggi 2580 (hotline.gg.go.kr)', through which it receives reports on acts that harm public interest and corruption by public officials and institutions.
When administrative measures are actually implemented through public interest whistleblowing, the province holds a Public Interest Whistleblower Support Committee to determine and award the reward amount.
Choi In-soo, Auditor of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Various illegal acts occurring in our society harm public interest, and illegal actors gain undeserved profits, creating unnecessary social costs," and added, "Through promoting public interest whistleblowing by awarding rewards, it is expected to contribute to eliminating illegal acts in Gyeonggi Province and building a fair and just society, which the 7th popularly elected administration of Gyeonggi Province is pursuing."
© Suwon Ilbo. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited.
Loading comments…