Suwon City to Issue Severe Disciplinary Action Against Official Who Raised Safety Concerns Over 'Communication Education'

It has been confirmed that Suwon City is proceeding with severe disciplinary action against Choi, a senior official at Yeongtong-gu Office, who first raised concerns about the anti-human rights nature of 'communication education' that led to the deaths of two city employees.

According to this news organization's investigation, Suwon City sent an official document titled 'Notice of Disciplinary Resolution Request' bearing the seal of the district office head to Choi on July 4 of last year.

Suwon City cited violations of duty to maintain dignity, breach of workplace discipline, violation of duty to obey, and breach of duty of sincerity as grounds for disciplinary action.

Since early 2012 when Suwon City was preparing 'communication education,' Choi had consistently raised concerns about its anti-human rights nature and dangers.

On March 31, Choi filed a complaint with the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, stating that the National Human Rights Commission of Korea had recommended 'corrective measures' for Seoul City's 'On-Site Administration Promotion Group,' which is similar to Suwon City's 'communication education,' and that Mayor Yeom had failed to correct the issue despite being aware of the dangers of 'communication education' following the death of a Suwon City official.

In 2008, one official involved in Seoul City's 'On-Site Administration Promotion Group' took his own life.

Starting in June 2012, Suwon City implemented 'communication education' for approximately one and a half months, with the stated goal of improving the public service atmosphere by screening out officials deemed to lack competence.

Thirty-eight officials (3 Grade 5, 14 Grade 6, 21 Grade 7 and below) were selected.

Of these 38 officials, 11 left their jobs, and 2 took their own lives. Five filed appeals with the Gyeonggi Province Appellate Review Committee and won.

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

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

Yu, 56, drowned in a reservoir on March 3 of this year. Yu won his appeal before the Gyeonggi Province Appellate Review Committee following the communication education, but Suwon City removed him from his team leader position.

As news of disciplinary proceedings against Choi, who had consistently raised issues regarding communication education that led to officials' deaths, spread, criticism of Mayor Yeom's 'retaliatory disciplinary action' has emerged within Suwon City Hall.

A high-ranking official, B, stated, "Given the position he holds, the mayor should be more generous and inclusive after taking office," and continued, "If the mayor issues severe disciplinary action against an official shocked by a colleague's death on the grounds of violating duty to maintain dignity—when the official was motivated by loyalty and demanded the abolition of communication education and an apology from the mayor—there will be considerable backlash."

Another official, D, emphasized, "If Mayor Yeom Tae-young does not earn genuine leadership from his officials, Suwon City administration will drift," and stressed, "The severe disciplinary proceedings must be halted immediately."

Meanwhile, the case against Suwon City Mayor for dereliction of duty was closed with a determination of no probable cause by the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office. However, an appeal was accepted by the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office (Case No. 903, 2014Ko-Hang6655), and a reinvestigation is underway.

The Suwon City Personnel Committee, which will decide on disciplinary action against Choi, will convene on the 16th.