KBS reports fairness concerns over spouses in same offices
KBS said the 9th elected-term Jeonbuk governor and Jeonju mayor have spouses working in the same local governments, raising conflict-of-interest concerns.
The spouses of the 9th elected-term Jeonbuk governor and Jeonju mayor work in the same local governments as the officials, KBS reported, citing concerns inside and outside the public sector over fairness.
KBS said Jeonbuk Governor Lee Won-taek and Jeonju Mayor Cho Ji-hun took part in student activism during college and entered politics as local council members. During the Jeonju mayoral race in May, Cho emphasized their relationship, saying, 'A victory for Lee Won-taek and Cho Ji-hun is not a victory for the two candidates. It is about breaking through threefold marginalization with the power of the economy and industry....'
KBS reported that their becoming local government heads created another shared point: their spouses are civil servants, one at the provincial office at section-chief level and the other at city hall at team-leader level. Because each works with a spouse who has personnel authority, the report said conflict-of-interest concerns can arise regardless of their personal intentions.
Lee appeared to acknowledge the issue during the gubernatorial campaign in May, according to KBS. He said, 'She says she wants to work, so if I become governor, I think she may have to move to another institution.'
According to the report, some inside and outside the public sector say there has been unease over private gatherings centered on spouses of local government heads, line-forming and even suspicions about personnel decisions tied to personal connections. KBS said some people cite the case of the spouse of the 8th elected-term Jangsu County governor, who voluntarily left public service after her husband took office to prevent disputes over fairness and related issues.
KBS said the situation cannot be forced because the Constitution guarantees freedom to choose an occupation and the right to hold public office. The report said the remaining issue is how to prepare a way to maintain fairness in the public sector while respecting freedom to choose an occupation.
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