Candidate Byeon Chang-heum Responds to Allegations of Excessive Remarks and Special Treatment... (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Byun Chang-heum has repeatedly issued explanations regarding allegations of favoritism toward acquaintances, following past remarks and actions.

On the 19th, Byun released three explanatory statements refuting various allegations recently raised by the media and opposition parties, asserting that all are groundless.

First, Byun denied allegations that during his tenure as president of Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH), he favored a solar power company chaired by Heo In-hoe, a pro-government figure, and secretly signed an agreement in the process.

In the explanatory statement released through the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the same day, Byun countered the solar power business allegations by stating, "The criteria for selecting solar power distribution companies and the actual selection were carried out by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which was promoting renewable energy activation, and thus have nothing to do with me or SH."

Byun explained in the statement that the selection of solar power distribution companies was entirely a Seoul city task, and the reason for not publicizing the agreement was that it was a small-scale event with little need for promotion.

The main point of the allegation is that the 'Green Dream Cooperative,' chaired by Heo, had no solar power installation achievements but was able to expand the mini power plant project throughout Seoul based on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SH to promote the distribution of solar mini power plants, and that SH deliberately concealed the fact of holding this event.

Regarding this, Byun stated that the reason for accepting Green Dream's donation was, "At the time, a request letter for solar power activation came from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which was promoting renewable energy policies, and from the tenants' perspective, it was naturally necessary to actively promote it as it could reduce energy cost burdens."

About the process, Byun explained, "On November 30, 2015, Green Dream proposed a mini solar power donation to SH, and after completing installations in 25 households on December 10 of the same year, an MOU was signed on December 30. Green Dream had been selected as a solar power distribution company by Seoul City on November 25 of that year, and SH was notified of this."

He emphasized, "The signing ceremony was a small-scale event targeting 25 households, so no press release was distributed, but it was disclosed on the SH website. There was no separate promotion, but it was not a secret agreement."

Byun also addressed allegations that he gave preferential treatment by hiring close school alumni to senior positions at SH during his presidency.

He explained through the statement that the hiring was conducted through an objective screening process.

Among nine senior executives at SH hired between 2014 and 2017 at grade 1 or higher, five were graduates of Seoul National University Graduate School of Environmental Studies, where Byun earned his master's and doctoral degrees, raising suspicions that Byun exerted pressure on the hiring process.

In response, he said, "SH introduced an open recruitment system in December 2014 to hire experts expected to demonstrate professionalism and work performance, and the selection process was conducted fairly, with even the SH labor union chairman participating as a selection committee member."

There are also criticisms that Byun broke trust by setting a condition that non-regular employees with good performance would be converted to indefinite-term contracts but later converted them to office support staff or dismissed them.

In 2013, SH hired seven marketing experts as short-term contract workers with the possibility of conversion to indefinite-term contracts, but despite their excellent performance, none were converted to indefinite-term contracts.

Regarding this, Byun explained, "SH Corporation hired seven non-regular marketing experts during the previous president's tenure to handle the sale of unsold land and housing to resolve unsold inventory. After I took office as president, I intended to convert them to professional indefinite-term contracts considering their work performance, but since all unsold land and housing had been sold, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and SH Corporation board did not approve the increase in personnel for their indefinite-term contract conversion."

Byun added, "It was not that I opposed their conversion to indefinite-term contracts; rather, through active consultations with related organizations such as the Seoul Metropolitan Government, we secured four office support staff positions (indefinite-term contracts)."

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