(연합뉴스 영문사설) Corruption at transportation safety agency must be punished

(Yonhap Editorial) Corruption at transportation safety agency must be punished

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Under intense scrutiny, the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (KOTSA) has been revealed to be corrupt inside and out. The revelation is horrifying because the corruption was so blatant. People paid bribes to be promoted, and the amount of the bribes were set according to the level of each position.

   More appalling is the fact that KOTSA's labor union leader, who was supposed to be monitoring it, was also in on the money-for-promotion scam. The incident reeks of cronyism.

   The police made the case public. Until they began their investigation a year ago, there was not even a single case of discipline related to the scam. Everyone in the bribery hierarchy were coddled together. KOTSA, which is under the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, is responsible for protecting people's lives by ensuring safe mass transportation. The agency was cited before for excelling in public services and named the most-respected corporation in Korea in 2011.

   Four officials were arrested and 20 others booked in connection with the case. Each of the arrested are said to have received bribes of between 5 million won (US$4,396) and 30 million won for pitching certain candidates for promotion. Each position level was marked with a price, according to investigators. Eleven out of 184 people promoted between 2007-2010 bought their promotions, as did five of 12 who became executive-level officials. Bribes were also paid to ensure an employee's child was hired as a contract worker, to erase a negative performance record and to be able to choose where to work among local offices.

   KOTSA has 13 local offices, 58 vehicle inspection offices, and 1,150 full-time employees. There is no sign that through all this time, an in-house monitor rang an alarm bell. The agency, belatedly, announced self-cleansing measures, saying it will immediately fire anyone who accepts money in exchange for promotions. But it is questionable just how many at KOTSA can and will enforce such measures.

   Strict punishment and accountability must accompany any effort to root out corruption. The police have said they will investigate whether there were other forms of corruption at KOTSA and expand the probe to all state-run agencies as well. We expect a thorough investigation.