It has been revealed that more than 30 National Tax Service (NTS) audit officials have been disciplined over the past five years or so for receiving money and entertainment or violating code of conduct rules during tax audits.

According to data submitted by the NTS to Representative Kang Min-guk of the People Power Party, a member of the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee, on October 21, a total of 31 NTS audit officials were disciplined for violating codes of conduct and other rules from 2021 to July of this year.

By level of disciplinary action, 7 were dismissed, 5 were removed from office, 3 were suspended or demoted, 6 had their salaries reduced, and 10 received reprimands, with heavy disciplinary actions such as dismissal or removal accounting for 48.4% of the total.

The number of disciplined individuals by year has shown an increasing trend, rising from 1 in 2022 to 12 last year, with 1 official disciplined as of July this year.

A Grade 5 official, identified as A, was fired last year after pocketing a total of 80 million won, having demanded additional money from a person involved in a case by stating that "there are many people to share with while working."

Another Grade 6 official, identified as B, was dismissed after receiving 8.6 million won worth of money and entertainment, including entertainment bar hospitality and gifts, from a corporation targeted for a tax audit, and is currently standing trial on bribery charges.

There were also 4 audit officials who received a reprimand without an official penalty, which is not included in official disciplinary records. Among the 35 violators including them, accepting money and entertainment was the most common reason at 23 individuals (65.7%), while by job rank, Grade 6 officials accounted for the majority at 20 individuals (57.1%).

Representative Kang Min-guk emphasized that "the continuous increase in violations by audit officials, who more than any other public servants must not compromise with solicitation and the like, is a serious problem," adding that the NTS must strictly punish corrupt practices that undermine the realization of fair taxation.

(Photo: Yonhap News)