RoK Ambassador to Vietnam fired for violating anti-bribery law

Kim Do-hyun, RoK's Ambassador to Vietnam, speaks with Hankook Ilbo in Hanoi, Vietnam. Korea Times file

According to The Korea Times, the RoK’s Government's Central Disciplinary Committee decided on his dismissal for reportedly receiving a free hotel stay and airline tickets for his family from local companies to attend a golf event in October and thus violating the Kim Young-ran Act that strictly prohibits public officials from receiving gifts and donations over a certain amount.

The committee also concluded that Kim misused his power by using abusive language against his embassy officials. The RoK’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs' disciplinary committee has sent the case to the central organization.

The envoy is accused of treating embassy officials in an arrogant and authoritarian manner, a practice called "gapjil" in Korean.

Kim has already been the subject of controversy over his work style, viewed by critics as unorthodox or eccentric for a senior diplomat.

The RoK’s Foreign Ministry secured multiple related tip-offs during the audit, according to the Seoul-based Hankook Ilbo newspaper.

Kim plans to file a suit against the decision. If the decision is approved, he would be unable to work as a public servant for three years.

A civil servant can face punishments ranging from verbal warnings to dismissal following a decision by the government panel.

Kim, 53, was appointed to the post in April last year, having served as a Samsung Electronics Co. executive responsible for smartphone sales in Europe. He earlier served at the RoK’s Foreign Ministry./.

The Korea Times