Ethical Violations by Staff Embarrass President Lee
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
Cheong Wa Dae is under growing pressure to raise ethical standards for its staff and toughen disciplinary measures following a series of reports that some staff members continue to commit wrongdoings.
Last week, the presidential office disciplined a junior official at the office of personnel management and planning for assaulting a taxi driver while arguing over the fare. He was reportedly intoxicated when police arrived at the scene, according to reports from citizens.
Another official working at the office of the secretary for general affairs was also arrested last week for allegedly raping a woman, whom he met on a blind date. He submitted his resignation after the case was reported to Cheong Wa Dae.
The cases came right after President Lee Myung-bak admonished his senior secretaries for ``failing to take care of their staff’’ and called for harsh punishment for ethical violations.
Lee called on the secretaries to keep a low-profile and place their top priority on serving the public interest.
``We are very embarrassed at the cases because they may dampen the public image of Cheong Wa Dae as well as President Lee,’’ a presidential spokesman said.
In recent weeks, the president’s office has taken disciplinary action against staff for violating ethical rules.
According to reports, one official pressured private telecom firms to donate money to the Korea Digital Media Industry Association, a lobby group headed by Kim In-kyu, an aide to President Lee.
There was also an exchange of slander between presidential secretaries in their workplaces. A presidential secretary in charge of labor affairs kicked up a rumpus in another secretary’s office, saying that he had failed to seek his opinions in setting up labor-related policies.