Whistle-blowers in jeopardy

Legislation necessary to protect leakers

Whistle blowing is frowned upon although the public acknowledges the watchdog role of insiders concerning fraud at both private and public entities. It is no coincidence that Korea ranks 39th out of the 178 countries in Transparency International’s corruption perception index.

Whistleblowers often face reprisals, ostracism, demotion, harassment and other social slights.

The military took disciplinary action against a lieutenant major named Hwang, for his revelation about his corrupt boss under review for promotion to general. Hwang could not expect promotion after a cut in salary for three months. His junior associate is now in jail for accounting manipulations. The Defense Ministry alleges that it is not whistle blowing, but a smear campaign.

It may take months or even a year for the National Human Rights of Korea to complete a review of Hwang’s petition. It is a Herculean task for a whistleblower to wage a fight against an institution.

A lawyer at a leading firm is almost unable to do public work after his bombshell about his company’s rampant corruption years ago.

It is refreshing, however, that the Employment and Labor Ministry has instituted a system of providing both monetary rewards and legal protection to these people. Other government agencies need to introduce a similar system.

Legislation is necessary to reward and protect whistleblowers. Protection of confidentiality is more urgent than rewards.

Whistle blowers are reluctant to risk harming relationships at work and outside. They lack legal defense funds or support groups.

Informants of misconduct on fellow employees or superiors face a certain stigma. They sometimes have to quit their jobs out of frustration from invisible pressures. They face being fired, suspension, demotion, pay cuts and harsh treatment by other employees.

They are also reluctant to become selfless martyrs for public interest and organizational accountability. They are afraid of facing criminal prosecution for wrong reporting. Peers sometimes ostracize the leakers. Potential future employers blacklist them. They face so-called mobbing, a campaign to eliminate them from an organization or an extreme form of workplace bullying.

In addition, legalization is necessary to help the leakers receive a percentage of the money the government recovers.

A blind praise of all whistleblowers is also risky as verification of their allegations is necessary. Victims of false whistle blowing deal unintended harm to innocent peers or supervisors.

Korea should scrap the widespread `shoot-the-messenger’ mentality so that it can become a clean and transparent society.

The society as a whole can gain more than lose by glorifying whistleblowers. They prevent violations of laws, regulations, fraud, health and safety laxity and corruption.

Both external and internal whistleblowers must be protected socially, legally, systematically and institutionally.