Changwon Mayor Hong Nampyo: "Apologies for the Concern... Hope the Truth Will Be Revealed"

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, who was hospitalized after collapsing during a trial, recently expressed his position on allegations of violations of the Political Funds Act on the 30th, following his recovery.

Earlier, on the 28th, Mayor Hong collapsed due to dizziness and symptoms of high blood pressure while on trial for allegedly bribing a candidate during the local elections, and was urgently transported to the hospital.

The statement began with, “I sincerely apologize for causing concern to the citizens who trust and worry about me.”

Mayor Hong emphasized, “The distorted and exaggerated attacks by a certain political faction, obsessed with party interests under the pretext of the aftermath of the last local election, have gone too far,” and “As I have stated several times, I was not involved at all in the fundraising or expenditure of election costs during the last election period.”

He added, “Fundraising was conducted legally within the framework of the law through an official support committee, and regarding subsequent expenditures, strict verification by the Election Commission was completed and a response was received.”

Statement from Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam. [Provided by Changwon City Hall]

Regarding personnel matters, he stated, “I take pride in that the personnel system has been operated more transparently than any previous administration under a clear personnel system.”

“Rather, I hope that this opportunity will properly clarify the substantive truth and prove that the suspicions raised by some are unfounded,” he said, adding, “Justice will prevail (事必歸正).”

Mayor Hong said, “Having overcome the waves of successive typhoons and laying the economic foundation in defense, nuclear power, and hydrogen sectors, there is no time to turn away from the pressing livelihood issues before us,” and promised, “Regardless of personal matters, with an unwavering initial resolve, I will swiftly and neatly organize the accumulated pending issues and steadily prepare for Changwon’s future.”

Earlier, on the 25th, the prosecution conducted a search and seizure of the Mayor’s office at Changwon City Hall, the Second Deputy Mayor’s office, and the Personnel Department regarding allegations of violations of the Political Funds Act, and on the 28th, they also searched the office of the Chairman of Changwon Leisure Sports Park and his residence.

In response, the Gyeongnam Provincial Party of the Democratic Party of Korea urged Mayor Hong to resign in a statement on the 28th.

The Democratic Party said, “It is an unprecedented situation that the Changwon Mayor’s office has been searched again following last year,” and questioned, “The inclusion of the Personnel Department in this search raises concerns that allegations of personnel corruption are being added to the existing Political Funds Act violation suspicions.”

During the previous search and seizure, Mayor Hong stated, “The candidate does not have the time to be involved in the expenditure of money during the election,” and “I was not involved in political funds.”

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