"Vulgar Abuse of Authority"‥ Mayor Jo Gwang-han Files Criminal Complaint Against Gyeonggi Province Auditor and Others

Charges of 'Abuse of Authority, Neglect of Duty, Defamation, and Insult'

On the 1st, Jo Gwang-han, Mayor of Namyangju City, Gyeonggi Province, filed a complaint with the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office against Kim Hee-su, Auditor of Gyeonggi Province, and four other audit staff members on charges including abuse of authority and defamation. [Namyangju City]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] Cho Gwang-han, mayor of Namyangju City, Gyeonggi Province, filed a complaint with the prosecution on the 1st against Kim Hee-su, Gyeonggi Province auditor, and four other audit staff on charges of abuse of authority and defamation.

Before submitting the complaint to the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office in the afternoon, Mayor Cho held a press conference and described it as a "vulgar abuse of authority," claiming, "The Gyeonggi Province auditor and staff have repeatedly engaged in unconstitutional and inhumane abuse of power against our city."

In the complaint, Mayor Cho pointed out, "Last year, Gyeonggi Province excluded Namyangju City from the special adjustment grant payment target on the grounds that the COVID-19 disaster relief funds were paid in cash, and subsequently conducted an unreasonable audit nine times."

He continued, "They thoroughly investigated the mayor's business promotion expenses and demanded severe disciplinary action against a secretary office staff member who distributed ten 25,000 won coffee gift certificates to the COVID-19 support department, branding it as corruption. They also illegally surveilled by tracking employees' internet accounts and collecting posted content," he criticized.

Mayor Cho especially emphasized, "They coerced and intimidated employees with human rights violations reminiscent of military regime investigative agencies, saying things like 'If you do not provide the requested statements, you will face severe disciplinary action,' or 'Don't take the blame alone, inform on your superiors.' This is clearly retaliatory administration disguised as an audit, and as a result, I and our city officials have been suffering from serious trauma to this day."

He added, "Although we submitted all audit materials requested according to the standards set by law during this year's comprehensive audit by Gyeonggi Province, the Gyeonggi Province auditor indiscriminately demanded materials violating the Local Autonomy Act and Constitutional Court precedents without proper grounds or reasons."

Mayor Cho also stated, "Gyeonggi Province distributed a press release containing false information alleging that Namyangju city officials conspired to systematically refuse and obstruct the audit," adding, "They insulted us using expressions such as 'acts disrupting national order.'"

He explained, "While the audit, lacking legal requirements or amid disputes over legal interpretations, repeated endlessly, retaliatory administration was triggered again just before the Chuseok holiday, and on the 17th of last month, the accused demanded institutional warnings for our city and staff along with disciplinary actions against as many as 16 people."

Earlier, on the 17th of last month, Gyeonggi Province distributed a press release demanding disciplinary action against staff responsible for refusing the comprehensive audit in Namyangju City, and Mayor Cho issued a statement on the same day announcing legal countermeasures.

Gyeonggi Province maintains that the audit of Namyangju City is a lawful audit conducted in response to reports and allegations.

Since last year, Gyeonggi Province and Namyangju City have been in conflict over issues including the method of disaster relief fund payments and valley and stream maintenance projects.

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