In the past five years, nearly 150 disciplinary actions have been taken against employees of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and its affiliated agencies for offenses including drunk driving, sexual misconduct, and bribery.
According to data submitted by Kim Jong-yang, a member of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, there were a total of 149 disciplinary actions from 2021 to August 2026.
The annual breakdown shows an increase from seven cases in 2021 to 41 in 2022, followed by 26 in 2023, 36 in 2024, and 22 in 2025. This year, 17 cases have been recorded from January to August.
Drunk driving accounted for the highest number of cases at 37, followed by 22 cases related to sexual misconduct, including harassment, assault, illegal filming, and prostitution. There were also 17 cases involving bribery and violations of the Anti-Graft Act.
The most common disciplinary action was a reprimand, with 45 cases, followed by salary reductions at 39, suspensions at 36, dismissals at 19, terminations at six, and demotions at four. Serious disciplinary actions, including dismissals, terminations, and demotions, totaled 65 cases, making up 43.6% of the total.
Serious disciplinary actions have continued this year. In February, a science and technology secretary at the ministry was dismissed for bribery, and in June, an administrative officer at the Busan Regional Land Management Office was also dismissed for bribery. In July, a facility officer at the same office was demoted for violating the Anti-Graft Act. In January, an engineering assistant at the Wonju Regional Land Management Office was dismissed for drunk driving.
Kim stated, "Policies from a department that has lost public trust cannot gain strength, so the leadership of the Ministry must take direct action to reform the organization."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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