December 22, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] James Kim, president of GM Korea, encouraged employees and union leaders to come clean regarding a widespread corruption of selling job openings, company officials said on Dec. 30.

In a recent email addressed to all employees of GM Korea, Kim said the company and prosecution will not punish those who voluntarily turn themselves in and acknowledge their involvement in receiving or offering kickbacks for job openings.
 

GM Korea chief James Kim

The promise followed months of prosecution investigation into allegations that some company executives and labor union leaders may have taken tens of millions of won in kickbacks in exchange for offering permanent job positions to contract workers.

Prosecution investigators have said nearly 480 workers who have landed a permanent position at GM Korea since 2012 may have been involved in such illegal deals.

Apparently considering the large number of possible suspects and a lack of time to question everyone, the prosecution last month offered to not press charges against those who voluntarily confess their wrongdoings before the end of this year.

However, only about 20 have come forward so far.

(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)