Editorial Don't Make Civil Servants Sacrificial Pawns in Political Fights
Political sparring is intensifying over allegations that Kim Seung-won, the nominee for Justice Minister, received preferential treatment in the selection of a voucher business institution through his spouse. Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party disclosed a recording in which the nominee's spouse said, "The welfare division team leader at City Hall extended the deadline and provided a lot of convenience," raising suspicions. It is the National Assembly's legitimate duty to verify a ministerial nominee's qualifications and conduct. This is especially true for allegations raised before a confirmation hearing.
The problem is that the blade is directed at individual civil servants in Suwon. Rep. Joo announced his plan to file a criminal complaint against the responsible official. Before whether any illegality or favoritism is even confirmed, he is placing one practitioner's name at the center of full-scale political warfare.
What needs to be verified is the record, not the person
Suwon's explanation differs from the expressions in the recording. The city stated that there was no fact of extending the application period or changing the submission deadline for any specific institution, and that the fire-related materials in question had already been submitted before subsequent procedures. What the phrase "extended the deadline" in the recording actually meant in the real administrative process is a matter to be clarified by cross-checking the project schedule and document submission records and whether the same standards were applied to other institutions. What needs to be verified is the record, not the name of a civil servant to put on a criminal complaint.
What has collapsed is not just one person's life
We have witnessed far too many cases where political disputes ultimately destroy the lives of innocent civil servants. With each change of government and every escalation of political conflict, practitioners have been dragged into the midst of targeted audits and collateral investigations. There are countless cases where a mere implementer following orders from superiors becomes the target of investigation, undergoes years of questioning, and even when cleared of charges, falls behind in promotions, becomes physically and mentally exhausted, and has their family shaken. Even if the conclusion is "no problem," no one compensates for the lost years and ruined lives. If there is wrongdoing, it is only right to receive an audit and bear corresponding responsibility. However, the moment politics targets a person before right and wrong are even clarified, it becomes intimidation, not truth-seeking.
The words of one civil servant are painful: "If this is politics—a National Assembly member singling out and pressuring one practitioner—who would want to work with a politician?" This statement is not merely personal grievance. If even civil servants who faithfully perform their duties according to regulations can have their lives shaken by collateral damage from political strife at any moment, public service can no longer be a place one can safely devote themselves to. Talented people turn away from government service, and those who remain resort to self-preservation to avoid responsibility. Instead of creative and proactive administration, "inaction born of caution" takes hold—doing nothing out of concern for future consequences. Making one practitioner a sacrifice to politics today is not just a problem for that one person today, but an erosion of morale for the entire future generation that will shoulder public service and the competitiveness of the public sector. That burden falls entirely on citizens.
Coincidentally, Suwon faces a major organizational restructuring and subsequent personnel changes next month. It is a sensitive period when attention is focused on promotions and assignments. When a specific department and staff member are placed in the center of political warfare at such a time, what remains is only a shriveled public sector and administration that only reads the room.
Let political disputes end in politics
We urge Rep. Joo to conduct political verification of the nominee at the confirmation hearing, targeting the nominee and the political community until the end. That is the realm of politics. But do not drag uninvolved practitioners into that fight. Whether favoritism actually occurred should be determined by objective administrative records, and that process should begin with fact-checking, not criminal complaint.
Suwon must not stand idle either. The city must proactively and transparently disclose the facts and protect its employees exposed to collateral damage from political conflict until the end. It is right that political disputes end in politics. The moment we take civil servants who have quietly done their job as hostages, what collapses is not just one person's life but the future of the entire public sector.