Gyeonggi Province Dismisses Official A, Secretary-Level Officer Who Filed False Multi-Property Report...Reviewing Promotion Cancellation

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hoon] Gyeonggi Province is dismissing one civil servant who was promoted to Grade 4 by concealing the fact of multi-property ownership and submitting false possession information, and is reviewing stern disciplinary measures including cancellation of promotion.

According to the province on the 22nd, Official A, a secretary-level officer promoted to Grade 4 in January of this year, was found to be a multi-property owner holding presale rights, contrary to the reported documents that he personally prepared and submitted last year based on the province's investigation.

In December last year, the province conducted a survey on multi-property possession of high-ranking civil servants scheduled for regular personnel appointments in January 2021.

At that time, the province specifically listed types of housing including detached houses, apartment buildings, officetel, and presale rights (occupancy rights) and had applicants fill them in. The submitted documents at that time contained no information about presale right ownership.

Official A's presale right ownership was revealed in the 'Gyeonggi Province High-Ranking Public Officials Housing Possession Survey for 2021' conducted by the province's Audit Office on May 27 with his consent.

The province believes Official A intentionally omitted the fact of presale right ownership.

A Gyeonggi Province official said, "Official A's action seriously damaged the objectivity and fairness of personnel affairs through submission of false materials and consequently undermined public trust in the province. This is an unavoidable disciplinary matter, and we will take stern measures to prevent such incidents from recurring and establish proper workplace conduct."

Meanwhile, as public distrust in the civil service has grown due to skyrocketing housing prices and real estate speculation by LH employees, Gyeonggi Province recommended in August last year that high-ranking civil servants owning multiple properties sell all properties except their primary residence.

As a follow-up measure, the province established a '2021 Personnel Operation Basic Plan' that comprehensively considers the integrity of civil servants, including whether they engage in real estate speculation, during promotions of high-ranking officials at Grade 4 and above, and conducted promotion appointments in early this year based on this plan.