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Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik briefs the press at the Yongsan presidential office in Seoul on November 12 on plans to enhance public service performance and strengthen civil service capacity. / Source: Yonhap News

Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik on Saturday ordered swift and strict action against a Grade-7 civil servant in Yangyang County accused of abusing sanitation workers.

In a written statement, the presidential office said Kang instructed the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the police to launch immediate audits, investigations and criminal inquiries into potential violations of the Local Public Officials Act, the Labor Standards Act and possible acts of assault, intimidation and coercion.

Kang also directed authorities to thoroughly examine the conduct of supervisors responsible for overseeing the official, emphasizing that any failures in management or oversight must also be addressed based on the findings.

The allegations involve a Grade-7 driver-level official in Yangyang who reportedly subjected sanitation workers to abusive treatment. The official allegedly engaged in what he called “martial law games,” including acts of violence, forcing workers to run after a departing garbage truck by refusing to let some board, and pressuring them to trade stocks.

The presidential office stressed that “if these allegations are true, the behavior not only severely damages the basic conduct and dignity expected of public officials but also constitutes an act that can never be tolerated.”