South Korea will launch a thorough inspection of all state-funded firms to find out if any job favors were given to children of influential people in politics and business amid rising public anger over reports of illicit employment, the government said Friday.

The decision was made at an emergency ministerial meeting chaired by Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon, with heads of 12 government ministries, including officials from the education and justice ministries, present.

The government will set up a special body to look into public enterprises' every recruitment record for the past five years and impose strict punishment to prevent such unfair practices in the public sector.

The finance ministry, Office for Government Policy Coordination, Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission and the National Police Agency will also join the nationwide crackdown campaign.

"The government will not tolerate such corruption in employment," said Finance Minister Kim, who is also double-hatted as deputy prime minister.

The movement came after some 10 public firms, including Kangwon Land, a state-run casino operator, took fire for hiring new workers on the request of powerful politicians, business leaders and government officials.

Earlier in the week, President Moon Jae-in also called for an all-out examination on the entire employment process of the public sector and tough measures against those who earned jobs through favoritism. (Yonhap)