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| Deputy Prime Minister Kim Dong-yeon speaks during a briefing on illicit hiring at state-run enterprises at the Government Complex in Seoul, Friday. / Yonhap |
The government will look into the recruitment records of state-run enterprises over the past five years to examine if any favors were handed out to job candidates related to influential figures in politics or the business circle.
At an emergency ministerial meeting presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Kim Dong-yeon, the government unveiled plans to root out illicit hiring at state-run enterprises amid growing public anger. Ministers from 12 ministries were at the meeting, including the education and justice ministries.
"The government will examine the employment process at not only 330 state-run enterprises under the central government, but also those run by provincial governments," Kim said.
Regarding the 330 state-run enterprises under the central government, there will be a probe into the hiring records over the past five years that will last until the end of the next month. If irregularities are found, the government will refer the case to the anti-corruption investigation bureau at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
Kim warned that there will be zero tolerance.
"The government will adopt a one-strike out system on those involved in illicit hiring," he said. "They will immediately be subject to heavy penalties," he added.
These include dismissal. The institutions or the individuals involved in the illicit hiring will also have their bonuses revoked. Those hired thanks to solicitation will also face dismissal.
The names and other details of those who exercised their influence in hiring processes, soliciting special favors for certain job candidates, will also be made public.
Currently, over 10 state-run entities are being investigated by the prosecution, following reports of illicit hiring. Most of those suspected of influencing the hiring are lawmakers, ranking officials and influential figures in the business circle.
Kim said such illicit hiring is deplorable when considering that the current administration is aiming for a fair economy and society.
"While the economy is heading to 3 percent growth, the government still has a huge task of enabling the general public to actually enjoy the outcomes of growth, such as an increase in youth employment," he said.
With statistics showing that one out of five young people in the country are virtually jobless, the illicit hiring scandal at state-run enterprises, which are deemed to offer relatively stable jobs, has stirred anger among young jobseekers as well as their parents.
The deputy prime minister said that the corruption scandals are discouraging young people and giving them a sense of deprivation.
"The government is firmly determined to prevent such corruption. We are aware of the probability that there may have been similar unfair practices in the private sector. The government efforts in the public sector will expand to the whole market and the country," he said, pointing to an ongoing investigation on illicit hiring at some banks.
