More than 80 percent of former finance ministers and deputy ministers since 2000 have been employed by South Korean conglomerates as external board members after retiring from government service.

The tally, analyzed by KBS, excludes nine former Finance Ministry leaders still in public service.

Of the 32 ministers included in the count, 26, or roughly 84 percent, were employed as outside board members by conglomerates at least once.

Seven of the officials were employed by two or more conglomerates as board members, with one former Finance Ministry official claiming seats with four industrial groups.

According to the board meeting minutes available on the Financial Supervisory Service Web site, the ex-Finance Ministry officials have never voted against a board decision, sparking criticism that the officials served as lobbyists and used their new jobs to cash in on their public experience.