ACRC to boost protection of whistleblowers on ‘Corruption at private schools’ in conjunction with Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education

- ACRC-Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education signed an MoU on Feb. 21, pledging support for cooperation in ensuring confidentiality and protection of whistleblowers on corruption at private schools -

February 21, 2020

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission

The Republic of Korea

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Pak Un Jong) and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) will join forces to see to it that the confidentiality of whistleblowers on corruption at private schools, including embezzlement, accounting fraud, irregularities in the recruitment of school personnel, improper solicitation related to school admission and records, is more strictly maintained and that protection and rewards are further strengthened.

The ACRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Feb. 21 at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE, Superintendent of Education Cho Hee Yeon), and made a pledge to cooperate in ensuring stricter confidentiality and protection of whistleblowers on corruption at educational institutions* including private schools.

* ① The main office of education, district offices of education, educational agencies affiliated therewith and their subordinate agencies under the Municipal Regulation on the Administrative Organizations and the Standard for the Fixed Number of Positions, etc. in the Local Educational Administrative Agencies, falling under the guidance and supervision of the superintendent of education of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, ② schools of each level established under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Early Childhood Education Act, and ③ school juristic persons and their subordinate agencies under the Private School Act

Through signing the MoU, the ACRC and SMOE agreed to spare no efforts in cooperating and supporting for the protection of private school corruption whistleblowers, the handling of reports on corrupt practices and any conduct detrimental to the public interest, and the provision of rewards and prize money for whistleblowers.

In addition, the two agencies also made an agreement to bolster reporting and disciplinary action against violators of the law on the protection of whistleblowers, cooperate in ensuring the confidentiality of whistleblowers and providing the remedy for the damage, assist in promoting and educating about whistleblower protection systems and push for the anti-corruption policy.

Meanwhile, the ACRC has signed MoUs with the Gyeonggi-do provincial government, the Korean Bar Association (KBA), and the Korea Neuropsychiatric Association (KNPA), etc. to cooperate in facilitating corruption and public interest report and reinforcing reporter protection and support.

* KNPA (2019.7.10.), KBA (2019.5.31.), Gyeonggi-do provincial government (2019.3.15.), Construction Association of Korea (2019.7.9), Korea Electrical Contractors Association (renewed on 2019.6.15.)

ACRC Chairperson Pak Un Jong said, “The ACRC has not only formulated and implemented various policies for the protection and support for corruption and public interest whistleblowers, making it a top priority, but also strived to improve relevant institutions to offer practical help to whistleblowers,” adding that “I expect the signing of the MoU with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will serve as an opportunity to prevent corruption at private schools in advance and further spread awareness on the protection of whistleblowers.”

SMOE Superintendent of Education Cho Hee Yeon stated, “I hope this MoU will serve as a great momentum for the Office of Education to strengthen the active administration to protect public interest whistleblowers, and I will see to it that public interest whistleblowers will no longer suffer disadvantageous or retaliatory measures against them by implementing effective protective measures.”