Gyeongbuk Province Finds No Suspicion in Public Officials' Speculation Investigation... 3,865 Consent to Personal Data Provision

From March 16 to the end of April, 7 districts including the provincial office relocation new town

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Jae-ho] Gyeongbuk Province announced on the 4th that no suspicious cases of speculation were found as a result of an internal investigation into speculation involving its public officials and their immediate family members.

There were four public officials and family members with real estate transactions or land compensation history, but Gyeongbuk Province explained that these were acquired through inheritance (2 people) and gifts (2 people), and no suspicious cases of speculation using insider information were confirmed.

From March 16 to April 30, Gyeongbuk Province formed an investigation team centered on the Audit Office to conduct an investigation on seven project districts (total investigation area of 13,597,000㎡, 7,574 parcels), including the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Relocation New Town Construction Project and the Yeongju Advanced Bearing National Industrial Complex Development Project.

The investigation targets included 1,064 public officials who were former employees of Gyeongbuk Development Corporation and those who had worked in relevant departments such as project promotion, urban planning, farmland and mountain land permits of the province and the relevant cities and counties up to five years before the location announcement date of each project district, as well as their spouses and immediate family members (parents, children), totaling 4,158 people.

For the investigation, the province received real estate transaction and land compensation details within the project districts from the cities, counties, and Gyeongbuk Development Corporation, and comprehensively examined acquisition timing and acquisition circumstances. The investigation was completed for 3,865 people, excluding 253 retired or transferred public officials who were difficult to obtain consent for personal information provision and 40 family members who did not agree to provide personal information.

For the 253 retired or transferred public officials, the investigation continued after obtaining consent for personal information provision. For the 40 family members of public officials who did not consent to provide personal information due to reasons such as living far away, the province plans to notify investigative agencies.

Gyeongbuk Province will continue to operate a tip-off system for suspicion of speculation and plans to initiate investigations or notify investigative agencies for suspected illegal acts. For small-scale development projects under 50,000㎡, additional investigations will be conducted in consultation with cities, counties, and the development corporation if suspicion of speculation arises.

Jeong Gyu-sik, Auditor of Gyeongbuk Province, stated, "The investigation results into public officials' real estate speculation using various development information showed no circumstances suspicious of speculation," and added, "We will continue to do our best to eradicate speculation by public officials and create a clean public service atmosphere through continuous audits."

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