By Heekyong Yang

YONGIN (South Korea) – Kim Gwang-ho, a South Korean engineer, was certain that he would be able to receive adequate compensation through the U.S. safety regulator’s whistleblower program for a tip about Hyundai Motor Co safety lapses, which he has worked at 26 years.

After a long five year process, Kim is now more than $24million richer. He also plans to establish a foundation that promotes responsible corporate culture.

Kim, 59 years old, said that the compensation she received from the United States whistleblower program was greater than the cost of traveling to South Korea.

Kim’s act led to an agreement between Hyundai and Kia last year to pay $210m in civil penalties.

Kim is establishing a YouTube channel for teaching people how they can expose employers’ poor behaviour. Kim learned about U.S. law from Hyundai training and that inspired him to speak out, he explained in an interview.

Kim stated, “The amount” is not extraordinary, or something like that. He was speaking in his living-room in Yongin south of Seoul.

Kim said that his actions cost him his job, and also severed all ties with his long-standing colleagues.

Hyundai Motor Group declined to comment.

BIGGEST WIDE

According to Constantine Cannon law firm, Kim was represented by them, Tuesday’s award was the first ever given by the U.S. regulator. It also marked the largest whistleblower case in any sector of the automotive industry worldwide.

The announcement comes at a time when the U.S. regulator and U.S. Transport Authorities are preparing regulations for a program for whistleblowers within the auto sector created by Congress in 2015.

It rewards those who provide information on safety issues. The whistleblower program is designed to assist the regulator in its police of the automobile industry. The fines and penalties that are collected from successful whistleblowers can range anywhere between 10% and 30%.

According to the regulator, Kim will receive 30% of an initial payment of $81 Million that Hyundai and Kia have agreed upon.

“I was relieved when it ended,” he stated, noting that he had been contacted by his legal firm to confirm if he could receive any more.

Kim stated to the U.S. regulator Hyundai that Hyundai wasn’t taking sufficient action to fix an engine problem increasing the likelihood of accidents in the summer 2016. Kim cited an internal report by the strategy team to management.

The regulator began an investigation in 2017. It found that the companies had not recalled the vehicles within the required timeframe. This resulted in the $210 million penalty.

Reuters reports that U.S. prosecutors investigated whether Hyundai’s recalls of vehicles were properly done in 2018.

Kim is not satisfied with his attempt today.

He said, “Those trying to hide recalls are still working at Hyundai Motor Group affiliates. Which I believe is the difficult reality even though I was able to blow the whistle and correct them.”