Hong Cheol-ho, former Senior Secretary for Political Affairs to the President, has received notice that he may be employed as the chairman of Krechko and Plus One. Both companies are related to Gupne Chicken, and they are owned by Hong and his children. Hong co-founded Gupne Chicken in 2005 with his brother.
The Government Public Official Ethics Committee disclosed the results of a total of 62 cases from the 'Employment Review for Retired Public Officials in June 2025' on the 3rd.
Those who are obligated to register their assets, including public officials of level 4 or higher, executives of related organizations, and specific employees of these organizations, must undergo a job review in advance if they wish to be employed in institutions subject to job reviews within three years of retirement, according to current law.
A total of three cases received employment restrictions or disapproval decisions in this review. A person who retired as a police chief at the Korean National Police Agency in March 2023 received a notice of employment restriction because it was determined that there was a relationship between the department or institution he belonged to before retirement and the business of the intended employer.
Furthermore, a former chief researcher at the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), who was looking to move to Hanwha System as an executive, received a disapproval decision. Additionally, a level 3 local employee in Jeonbuk Province attempted to transition to the Construction Association of Korea but received the same judgment. The ethics committee determined there were no special reasons to approve their employment, as it did not align with strengthening national competitiveness or public interest, and the expertise in the field they intended to enter was not substantiated.
Among the retired public officials who requested an employment review last month, many have taken positions with Coupang and its affiliates. A level 3 senior administrative officer who retired in June this year is set to join Coupang as a Managing Director, while a level 3 employee from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is also noted to be able to work at Coupang as a Director General. A level 7 prosecutor who retired in May also received a decision regarding employment as a Director General at Coupang.
Among those moving to Coupang affiliates are a retiree from the Korean National Police Agency who is set to become an on-site manager at Coupang Fulfillment Services, a level 6 employee from the Ministry of Employment and Labor who received notification of employment as a Director General at Coupang Logistics Services, and a level 4 employee from the Fair Trade Commission who was notified of employment at Coupang Pay as an executive.
Additionally, the ethics committee requested fines from the competent court regarding eight cases where individuals, despite being subject to employment review, were employed arbitrarily without going through the prior employment review.