Gwangju Kyungsilryeon Condemns Moral Hazard and Gapjil by Gwangju Green Car Promotion Agency Director

Urgent Call for Immediate Special Audit of 'Gwangju Green Car Promotion Agency' in Gwangju City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Gwangju Economic Justice Practice Citizens' Coalition has called for the Gwangju Metropolitan City to initiate a special audit regarding the moral hazard and power abuse of Bae Jeongchan, President of the Gwangju Green Car Promotion Agency (Foundation).

On the 20th, Gwangju Economic Justice Practice Citizens' Coalition issued a statement revealing that President Bae violated related guidelines by leasing and using a large passenger car and committed power abuse by using subordinate employees as personal secretaries and drivers.

The organization stated, “The Gwangju Green Car Promotion Agency originally had no guidelines for managing official vehicles, and the head of the agency, equivalent to Grade 3, is allowed to possess only one mid-sized passenger car under 2000cc engine displacement and one small passenger car (jeep type) under 1600cc engine displacement,” adding, “President Bae violated these guidelines by leasing and using a large passenger car, the K7.”

They emphasized, “There are also reports that he made subordinate employees drive not only to and from work but also to lunch and dinner gatherings, and even drinking parties, effectively using them as personal secretaries and drivers, which is a serious case of power abuse.”

The coalition pointed out, “The Gwangju Green Car Promotion Agency is an institution funded by Gwangju City and is the first investor and shareholder (48.3 billion KRW, 21%) of Gwangju Global Motors Co., Ltd. (hereafter GGM), the first project of the Gwangju-type job model, bearing heavy responsibilities,” and added, “President Bae is the only shareholder attending GGM’s shareholders' meetings on behalf of Gwangju City, but we have never heard that he has made efforts for the genuine success of the Gwangju-type job model at these meetings.”

They further stated, “Moreover, at the GGM extraordinary shareholders' meeting held on May 7, a resolution was passed, led by Hyundai Motor, the second-largest shareholder, and some related shareholders, that ‘no external institution’s management interference should be allowed.’ Considering that 48.3 billion KRW of Gwangju citizens’ taxes have been invested in GGM, treating it as if it were a company of a few investors and dismissing the efforts of Gwangju City, labor, and civil society for the success of the Gwangju-type job model as external management interference raises questions about what statements and roles President Bae, as the first shareholder attending on behalf of Gwangju City, has taken.”

The coalition criticized, “President Bae claimed he was unaware that official vehicles should not be used for private purposes and said he would correct any mistakes related to official vehicle operation,” adding, “It is unreasonable that someone appointed after serving as the President of Gwangju Technopark (Foundation) would not know this.”

They continued, “On the 15th, Gwangju Mayor Lee Yongseop urged the heads of public institutions under Gwangju City to establish work discipline among public institution employees and declared that any laxity in work discipline would be strictly dealt with regardless of position,” and urged, “Gwangju City should immediately conduct a special audit of the Gwangju Green Car Promotion Agency and establish concrete measures to prevent recurrence.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.