Korea Gas Safety chief resigns amid scandal
The head of Korea Gas Safety Corp. (KGS) is about to resign amid the growing scandal over alleged recruitment irregularities.
The public company, which oversees the safety of the nation’s natural gas infrastructure, said Sunday that there would be a farewell ceremony for CEO Park Ki-dong at its headquarters in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, Monday.
Park, who became CEO in December 2014, told employees Saturday that he would leave five months earlier than his three-year tenure, which was due to end in December.
Park is expected to tender his resignation to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy after the ceremony.
He is the second head of state-run enterprises affiliated with the ministry to quit before his term ends.
Korea Gas Corp. CEO Lee Seung-hoon, energy policy adviser to former President Park Geun-hye, left on July 20.
Park’s abrupt departure comes several days after the prosecution raided KGS headquarters and his residence, confiscating computer files and documents.
Investigators from the Cheongju District Prosecutors’ Office even searched his vehicle.
The raid came after the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) asked the prosecution to investigate allegations that between 2015 and 2016, KGS manipulated job applicants’ interview scores.
BAI has been carrying out the probe since receiving a tip-off in April, and recently referred the case to prosecutors to find out why some applicants were given undue favors.
BAI alleges that Park was involved in the illicit activity.
Investigators plan to summon and question Park and recruiting managers to check whether they interfered in the firm’s recruitment process.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Kyungil University in Yangsan, North Gyeongsang Province, Park joined KGS in 1980.
Throughout his 38-year career, he has served in various posts.
He was the first CEO promoted from within the company in its 40-year history.