Controversy over reinstatement of Kangwon Education Public Officials during trial for 'illegal campaign'

Controversy is brewing over the fact that a former official of the Gangwon Office of Education, who was indicted on charges of illegal campaigning and removed from his position, was reinstated before the first trial was over.

A, a former spokesman for the Gangwon Office of Education, was confirmed to be working at an agency directly under the Gangwon Office of Education in Cheorwon, Gangwon-do, after returning to work in July.

Mr. A is currently on trial with Gangwon Superintendent of Education Shin Kyung-ho on charges of illegal campaigning and bribery, and was removed from his position after prosecutors indicted him in December 2022.

The Gangwon Provincial Office of Education said that the provincial office of education does not have the authority to engage in personnel affairs, including the reinstatement of A, a private school teacher, and that the school decided and dispatched it at the request of the educational institution.

It is extremely rare for an education official who has been handed over to trial and removed from his position to return to work even before he is sentenced to the first trial, and Article 44 of the Education Public Officials Act and 58 of the Private School Act stipulate that the appointment authority can be removed if a teacher or education official is charged in a criminal case.