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| Seoul Bar Association President Kim Han-kyu, second from left, criticizes the alleged abuse of power by lawmakers and high-profile public officials for their children's employment, during a press conference at the National Assembly, Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap |
By Lee Kyung-min
A group of lawyers want high-profile government officials and lawmakers to disclose the employment details of their spouses or children if they land jobs at public institutions, large companies or law firms.
The move is aimed at preventing public officials from abusing their power to ensure that their family members obtain sought-after jobs, which occurred with several high-profile cases recently.
The Seoul Bar Association (SBA) said Thursday it would revise the law on ethical standards for public officials.
"The law makes it mandatory for lawmakers and high-ranking officials to disclose their wealth to monitor if they have accumulated that wealth through illegal means. Likewise, the employment of family members should be made public so people can monitor any possible illegality," Kim Han-gyu, head of the association, said during a press conference at the National Assembly.
The group said that such measures are needed to help guarantee fair competition and restore public trust in public representatives.
"The importance of restoring meritocracy is getting more critical," it said. "Employment using parents' influence rather than individual capability undermines society's spirit of fair competition."
Those who come from such privileged backgrounds are unfairly gaining a head start at the beginning of their career, Kim added.
Regarding recent incidents in which law school graduates obtained jobs through their fathers' influence, he said, "Prosecutors and judges are professions that require the highest standards of morality and conscience. How could we expect such qualities from people who were unfairly hired?"
The SBA also claimed lawmakers and public officials should be punished when using their power to benefit acquaintances and the employment process of prosecutors and judges should be more transparent.
It was recently found that two incumbent lawmakers sought favors to have their children land jobs.
Rep. Yoon Hu-duk of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy admitted that he called LG Display CEO to have his lawyer daughter hired there in 2013. He made a public apology saying that his daughter decided to quit the company.
The ruling Saenuri Party on Wednesday launched its own inspection into Rep. Kim Tae-won over allegations that he solicited favors on behalf of his lawyer son who was employed in 2013 at the Korea Government Legal Service. While he denies the allegation, the inspection result is expected as early as next week.
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