Controversy Over Multi-Billion Won Construction Contract Awarded to Spouse of Gimhae City Council Member in Local District

Gimhae City: "We Did Not Know the Corporate Representative Was a Family Member Until Audit Office's Pointed Out"

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kang Sharon] Amid growing social awareness regarding land speculation by employees of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), controversy has arisen as a family member of a Gimhae City Council member won a local district project worth several hundred million won.

On the 22nd, Um Jeong, a member of the Gimhae City Council from the People Power Party, stated during a 5-minute free speech at the recently held 234th City Council extraordinary session, "Local council members and their spouses are prohibited from entering into contracts for profit in their districts, but it was confirmed through an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection that a family member of a council member won a construction contract worth several hundred million won."

Um added, "The project was a road construction in the council member's district, and Gimhae City only imposed a one-month bidding qualification restriction on the company," and said, "I am ashamed and cannot hold my head up."

Although Um did not disclose the council member's name, the person involved, Democratic Party council member Ha Seong-ja, explained the situation herself, revealing her identity.

Council member Ha explained, "I was not fully aware of the rules prohibiting conflicts of interest related to local council members' duties, which led to this incident," and apologized, saying, "I apologize for causing concern to the citizens, the city, and the council due to my negligence."

According to Council member Ha, a construction corporation represented by her husband participated in a competitive bidding for an urban planning road construction project ordered by Gimhae City on the national electronic procurement site, Nara Marketplace, around November 2017.

Subsequently, the company was awarded the contract among 53 bidding companies and completed the project on November 18, 2018, after signing the contract.

Ha stated, "Gimhae City was unaware that the corporation's representative was a family member until the Board of Audit and Inspection pointed it out," and explained that she had no involvement at all.

She added, "Although it was an open competitive bidding unrelated to the council member, this incident occurred due to my shortcomings," and apologized again.

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