Allegations of Excessive Use of Business Expenses by Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Notifies Violations to Audit Office... Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Under Investigation

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] It has been confirmed that the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education received a notice of violation of the code of conduct due to excessive use of business promotion expenses.

According to the Citizens' Group for a Society Without Academic Elitism on the 27th, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission recently judged that the Superintendent of Education and department heads violated Article 7 of the Code of Conduct for Public Officials of the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education (Prohibition of Using Budget for Purposes Other Than Intended) and notified the Office of Audit of the Education Office of the violation.

Article 7 of the Code of Conduct for Public Officials of the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education states that public officials "shall not use budgets for official activities such as travel expenses and business promotion expenses for purposes other than intended, causing financial damage to their affiliated institutions."

The Citizens' Group for a Society Without Academic Elitism analyzed the business promotion expense data of the Superintendent and department heads posted on the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education website (from August 2019 to August 2020) and confirmed inappropriate usage details, which they reported to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.

The citizens' group pointed out that food and beverages (meals, refreshments, alcoholic drinks, beverages, and other similar items) provided for smooth job performance or social and ceremonial purposes should be executed within a limit of 30,000 KRW, but the use of high-end restaurants and excessive spending beyond related standards was contrary to public sentiment.

Regarding the report, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission investigated and judged that four individuals?the Superintendent of Education (5 cases), the Labor Policy Department Head (3 cases), the Finance and Welfare Department Head (2 cases), and the General Affairs Department Head (1 case)?violated the code of conduct.

The citizens' group stated, "Business promotion expenses of public institutions should not be used as petty cash by heads of institutions or department heads," and added, "Strengthening regulations on business promotion expenses and continuous guidance and inspection are urgently needed to ensure fair and transparent budget execution and secure credibility."

They further demanded, "Recover the excess amounts of business promotion expenses, discipline those who violate the public officials' code of conduct, and disclose business promotion expenses transparently and in detail, including usage time and location."

The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education said, "There is a difference of opinion as the ordinance states 40,000 KRW, while the guidelines state 30,000 KRW," and added, "We are preparing to submit a statement to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission."

Meanwhile, the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education is the only one among the 17 metropolitan and provincial offices of education that does not disclose 'usage location information' of business promotion expenses, and most of the Superintendent's business promotion expenses have been used at high-end restaurants for dinners and event after-parties. This has been pointed out by civic groups as evidence that the conservative culture and hierarchy in the education sector have not disappeared.