Prime Minister’s Office Official: “Will Request Investigation if Significant Allegation Arises from Tip”
President Lee Jae-myung (pictured right) and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok./Yonhap News
It was reported on the 18th that the government, in order to identify officials involved in the December 3 martial law, decided to accept tips on even those who have already retired through the “Government Innovation Task Force (TF) for Upholding the Constitution.” Since retired officials are not subject to personnel authority, the plan is to request an investigation from the relevant agency if allegations arise through these tips.
The Government Innovation TF for Upholding the Constitution was established under the Prime Minister’s Office. Its purpose is to gather tips and conduct investigations on officials directly involved in the simulation and post-justification of the martial law. After investigating current officials, the results are to be handed over to the Ministry of Personnel Management, which will have its Central Disciplinary Committee determine whether to impose disciplinary actions and to what extent.
However, this method cannot be applied to retired officials as they are no longer in government service and thus cannot be disciplined by the government. Therefore, the TF has decided to seek tips from current officials regarding retired officials, and if any allegations are found, they will request an investigation from the appropriate agency. An official from the Prime Minister’s Office stated, “If a significant allegation about a retiree comes up from a tip, we can request an investigation.”
In the political realm, criticisms have emerged regarding this task force. Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated, “The government has begun wielding the sword of brutal dictatorial politics against officials who are supposed to act neutrally.” Lee Jun-hyuk, leader of the Reform New Party, commented, “Public officials are being forced to work as if they are in a panopticon (a circular prison with everything under surveillance).”
Meanwhile, 49 ministries, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Justice, are to form individual Tfs under the guidance of the Prime Minister’s Office by the 21st. Each ministry’s TF plans to submit a list of those to be investigated to the Government Innovation TF for Upholding the Constitution.