A group of legal experts convened by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials(CIO) has judged that Seoul’s education chief abused his power in the re-employment of several dismissed teachers three years ago. 

In its meeting on Monday, a review committee agreed on the need for Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon to be indicted. 

The review committee consists of nine lawyers and two legal scholars. The Monday session proceeded with seven members in attendance, including former Busan High Court Chief Justice Lee Kang-won. 

The CIO plans to announce its final decision based on the committee’s judgment. As the office can indict judges, prosecutors and high-ranking police officers only, it is expected to request the prosecution to indict the Seoul education chief if it follows through with the committee’s decision. 

The liberal education chief is suspected of exercising favoritism when he ordered the Seoul Education Office to rehire five progressive-minded teachers, who were fired for their involvement in raising illegal funds during the 2008 superintendent election. 

Cho said he hired the former teachers in line with procedures stipulated by law, saying the move was appropriate for the sake of unity in the education sector and is consistent with social justice.