An analysis released by Democratic Party lawmaker Chung Sung-ho found that 53 of 300 executive posts at public institutions under the Public Institution Operation Committee have no successor in place. Audit-related posts make up more than half, raising concern over weaker internal controls.
According to the Kyunghyang Shinmun, Chung Sung-ho, a Democratic Party member of the National Assembly's strategy and finance committee, released on Oct. 13 an analysis of executive posts at public institutions subject to the Public Institution Operation Committee's review. As of Sept. 30, 2026, 40 of the 300 posts (13.3%) were held past their terms with no successor appointed, and 13 (4.3%) were simply vacant. Together, 53 posts (17.7%) lack a successor.
광고 문의 · 300×250Audit-related posts account for 28 of the 53 (52.8%), more than half. Eleven posts have waited over a year for a successor. The paper said 24 institutions, including Kangwon Land, Incheon International Airport Corp., the Housing and Urban Guarantee Corp. and Korea Airports Corp., have yet to fill standing or non-standing director and auditor slots.
Chief Executive Posts and Long-Running Vacancies
Gaps appear at the top as well. The Kyunghyang Shinmun said the terms of Kepco president Kim Dong-chul, K-water president Yoon Seok-dae and KEPCO KPS president Kim Hong-yeon have expired. Among long delays, the term of Oh Eun-kyung, a non-standing director and audit committee member at Korea Western Power, ended in January 2024, and that of Lee Seong-jun, a non-standing auditor at the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled, in March 2024; neither has had a successor for over two years.
The KEPCO KPS case was reported in more detail. In December 2024 its board named former vice president Heo Sang-guk as its candidate for president, but the appointment was never finalized amid the martial law and impeachment turmoil. After the current government took office, a fresh public search was launched, but Heo has pursued legal action, disrupting the selection of a successor. Details and status of that legal action were not confirmed in the report.
Concern runs two ways. KEPCO KPS maintains nuclear and thermal plant equipment and handles overseas nuclear projects, so a prolonged vacancy could delay major decisions such as overseas bids and new investment. Lingering audit vacancies could also weaken oversight and internal control. The figures are from Chung's office, however, and no official government timetable for filling the posts was confirmed.