Gwangju Bukgu Council Ignores Advisory Committee's Recommendation Again: Where Is the Trust?

Lowest Level Disciplinary Action for Kim Hyungsoo
Council Once Again Ignores Advisory Committee's Recommendation
Pattern Repeated in Private Contract Corruption Case
Civic Groups Say, "No Hope for Self-Reform"

The Gwangju Bukgu Council has once again become embroiled in controversy over "protecting its own members." Council member Kim Hyungsoo, who was referred to the Special Ethics Committee for verbal abuse and issuing personal instructions, received only a "public warning," the lowest level of disciplinary action, rather than the "30-day suspension of attendance" recommended by an external advisory body. As the Ethics Review Advisory Committee, which was introduced to strengthen self-regulation in local councils, is repeatedly rendered ineffective, cynicism is spreading among citizens, with many saying, "We no longer have any expectations."

Gwangju Bukgu Council.

According to local political circles and Asia Economy's coverage on April 24, the Bukgu Council recently confirmed a "public warning" as disciplinary action for Council member Kim at the 2nd meeting of the 301st Special Ethics Committee. Kim was accused of verbally abusing and giving personal instructions to staff at the council secretariat during his previous term as chair. This is the lowest of the four disciplinary levels stipulated by the Local Autonomy Act (warning-public apology-suspension of attendance-expulsion).

Previously, the Ethics Review Advisory Committee, composed of external members, recommended "a public apology and a 30-day suspension of attendance" for Kim, but the Special Ethics Committee did not accept this recommendation. Although it has been mandatory since 2022 to establish both a special ethics committee and an advisory committee to strengthen the ethical standards of local councils, the Bukgu Council has ignored the advisory committee's recommendations in both recent cases.

Last year, during a controversy over corruption in private contracts, the advisory committee recommended "expulsion," but the Special Ethics Committee reduced the disciplinary action to a 30-day suspension of attendance.

A representative of the Gwangju Bukgu branch of the public officials’ union pointed out, "The advisory committee has effectively become a mere formality," and added, "The council is undermining its own credibility."

There have also been concerns raised within the Bukgu Council. One council member said, "If even a clear case of verbal abuse ends with only a warning, how can citizens accept this?" and emphasized the need for a culture that respects the advisory committee’s recommendations.

The repeated controversies have also drawn cold reactions from the local community. Citizens who have watched the Bukgu Council repeatedly ignore the advisory committee's recommendations during disciplinary proceedings have expressed their disappointment.

A representative of a civic group said, "Honestly, every time similar controversies have repeated since last year, I have felt a sense of fatigue," and added, "In the end, the outcome is always obvious, so we no longer expect anything. If the Bukgu Council does not change on its own, all that will remain is the citizens’ cynicism."

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