Suspected Private Use of Overseas Business Trip Expenses by Splitting Spouse Accompanying Tickets, Choi Hyung-wook, Busan Dong-gu Mayor, Sent to Prosecution for 'Breach of Trust'

Choi Hyung-wook, Mayor of Dong-gu, Busan. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Choi Hyung-wook, the mayor of Dong-gu, Busan, who is accused of using business trip expenses for personal purposes, has been sent to the prosecution.

Mayor Choi was under investigation for using business trip expenses by purchasing two economy class seats instead of one business class seat on an overseas trip and accompanying his wife.

Busanjin Police Station announced on the 2nd that on the 30th, they sent Mayor Choi and Secretary A to the prosecution on charges of breach of trust.

According to the police, Mayor Choi is accused of embezzling about 1.3 million won in airfare and other expenses while accompanying his wife on a business trip to Hawaii, USA, from January 15 to 20 last year to sign an educational agreement.

The police believe that Mayor Choi purchased two economy class seats instead of one business class seat for himself and used one of the economy seats as his wife's airfare.

Secretary A is accused of knowing that the mayor's wife accompanied the trip but processed the airfare as if it were for two people, including himself, instead of three people when settling the business trip expenses.

Secretary A explained, "The change of airplane seats was to minimize business trip expenses, and the delay in settling the airfare was an administrative mistake caused by not knowing the government official travel expense regulations in detail," adding, "The disputed airfare has been fully returned to the district office."

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