Will Suwon City Issue Severe Disciplinary Action Against Official Who Raised Concerns About 'Communication Education'?

It has been confirmed that Suwon City is proceeding with severe disciplinary measures against Choi, a senior official at Yeongdeungpo District Office, who was the first to raise concerns about the anti-human rights nature of 'communication education' that led to the suicides of two city officials.

According to this newspaper's investigation, Suwon City sent Choi an official document titled 'Notification of Disciplinary Action Request' stamped with the district chief's seal on July 4.

Suwon City cited violations of duty to maintain dignity, work discipline establishment, duty of obedience, and duty of good faith as grounds for disciplinary action.

Choi has consistently raised concerns about the anti-human rights nature and dangers of 'communication education' since early 2012 when Suwon City was preparing the program.

On March 31, Choi filed a complaint with the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, stating: "The National Human Rights Commission of Korea recommended 'corrective measures' for Seoul City's 'Field Administration Promotion Unit,' which is similar to Suwon City's 'communication education,' yet Mayor Yeom failed to address the dangers of 'communication education' despite knowing them well following a Suwon city official's suicide."

In 2008, one official involved in Seoul City's 'Field Administration Promotion Unit' took his own life.

From June 2012, Suwon City implemented 'communication education' for approximately one and a half months with the aim of identifying officials deemed to lack competence and improving the workplace atmosphere through education.

Thirty-eight officials were selected for the program (3 grade 5, 14 grade 6, 21 grade 7 and below).

Among these 38 officials, 11 left their positions, and 2 committed suicide. Five won their appeals at the Gyeonggi Provincial Administrative Appeal Board.

Some officials refused the education citing human rights violations and were suspended for three months or demoted by one rank.

Park, 46, took his own life by jumping from a rooftop of a 10-story building on September 15, 2012. Found in Park's car was a 'Position Removal Notice' sent by Suwon City.

Yu, 56, drowned in a reservoir on March 3 of this year. It was confirmed that after Yu completed the communication education and won at the Gyeonggi Provincial Administrative Appeal Board, Suwon City stripped Yu of his team leader position.

As the disciplinary proceedings against Choi became known—given that he has consistently raised concerns about the problems of communication education that led to officials' suicides—criticism within Suwon City Hall has emerged that Mayor Yeom is engaging in 'retaliatory disciplinary action.'

A high-ranking official, B, said: "Given his high position, if the mayor was elected, he should be more generous and inclusive. If the mayor issues severe disciplinary measures against an official who was shocked by his colleague's suicide and, out of loyalty, demanded the abolition of communication education and the mayor's apology, citing violation of duty to maintain dignity, there will be considerable backlash."

Another official, D, stated: "If Mayor Yeom Tae-young does not gain leadership that springs from officials' hearts, Suwon City administration will drift. The disciplinary proceedings should be stopped now."

Meanwhile, the complaint against Suwon City Mayor for dereliction of duty was ruled as unfounded by the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, but an appeal was accepted by the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office (Case No. 2014고불항6655, assigned to Investigation Room 903), and reinvestigation is underway.

Suwon City's Personnel Committee, which will decide on disciplinary action against Choi, will meet on the 16th.