Jung Hyun-bok, Mayor of Gwangyang, Faces Real Estate Conflict of Interest Controversy... Police Investigation Launched

Jung Hyun-bok, Mayor of Gwangyang [Photo materials provided by Gwangyang City]

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Jeong Hyunbok, former mayor of Gwangyang City, Jeollanam-do, is causing a stir in the local community as the police have launched an investigation amid recent real estate conflict of interest controversies.

According to the 'Regular Property Change Report' recently disclosed by the Government Public Officials Ethics Committee, Mayor Jeong reported assets worth 3.116 billion KRW, an increase of more than 400 million KRW from last year's 2.705 billion KRW.

On the 29th, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Jeollanam-do Police Agency booked and is currently investigating Mayor Jeong Hyunbok on charges including violation of the Anti-Corruption Act.

The police intensified the investigation after suspicions of conflict of interest arose regarding the land in Gwangyang's original downtown area owned by Mayor Jeong and his family, where new roads were constructed and the area was developed into apartment complexes.

Recently, a post titled "Urgent Full Investigation Needed into Mayor Jeong Hyunbok's Wealth Accumulation Suspicion" was uploaded on the Blue House National Petition Board.

According to the petition and Gwangyang City, since about 40 years ago, Mayor Jeong and his family have owned land in Hobuk Village, Chilseong-ri, Gwangyang-eup, where a 178-meter-long two-lane road construction has been underway since October last year.

This construction was carried out in response to residents' demands for fire roads, and among the 569㎡ of Mayor Jeong's land, 108㎡ and among the 423㎡ of his family's land, 307㎡ were acquired and compensated.

Also, last year, two plots of land (1,704㎡ and 350㎡) owned by Mayor Jeong in the redevelopment areas of Seonghwang and Doiji districts were incorporated into private apartment complexes and public institution sites, respectively, and he reportedly received compensation money in advance instead of land exchange.

Typically, when land is incorporated, compensation is made through land-for-land exchange, but Mayor Jeong received compensation money, raising suspicions of preferential treatment.

The police have received a complaint based on the national petition content and are reviewing whether it falls under violations of the Anti-Corruption Act and breach of official secrets, among other charges.

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