Lee Jae-myung and Jo Gwang-han Clash Repeatedly... Retaliatory Audit Controversy Escalates

Clash Over Lee Jae-myung-Jo Gwang-han Special Audit
Jo Gwang-han "Illegal Retaliatory Audit" vs Lee Jae-myung "Eradication of Corruption"
Jo Eung-cheon, Kim Han-jung, Kim Yong-min "Accept Namyangju City Audit"
Jo Gwang-han Files Injunction for Suspension of Effect at Constitutional Court

On the 26th, Joo Kwang-han, Mayor of Namyangju City, held a press conference in front of the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and announced his position regarding Gyeonggi Province's audit of Namyangju City. Namyangju City filed a constitutional dispute trial against Gyeonggi Province's audit. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy reporters Han Seung-gon and Kim Young-eun] A conflict has arisen between two local governments over a special audit conducted by Gyeonggi Province targeting Namyangju City. While Namyangju Mayor Jo Gwang-han, who demanded the withdrawal of the audit calling it a 'retaliatory audit,' Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung drew a line by stating it is a 'legitimate audit.' Mayor Jo has expressed his intention to take legal action, and the confrontation continues.

From the 16th of last month until the 4th of next month, Gyeonggi Province is conducting an audit on Namyangju City under the name of a 'special investigation' for three weeks.

Gyeonggi Province stated, "This audit is based on media reports, anonymous and public interest whistleblowing, and residents' audit requests regarding various preferential treatment allegations." The investigation targets include preferential treatment allegations in the Yangjeong Station area development project, unfair selection of operators for the art club competition project, violations of COVID-19 quarantine guidelines, preferential treatment in the purchase of public property, and other media reports and on-site whistleblowing.

In response, Mayor Jo protested on the 23rd by holding a placard reading "Must we endure continuous retaliatory audits?" in front of the second-floor corridor of Namyangju City Hall, demanding the audit be stopped.

On the 24th, he held a press conference stating, "This is more of a repression disguised as an audit than an actual audit," and declared his refusal to cooperate further with Gyeonggi Province's audit.

Namyangju City claims that Gyeonggi Province's audit is a 'retaliatory audit.' Namyangju argues that after Governor Lee encouraged all cities and counties in the province to distribute disaster relief funds as local currency in April, the audit began because Mayor Jo chose to distribute the funds in cash.

Subsequently, Gyeonggi Province excluded Namyangju City from special adjustment grants, and Namyangju filed a constitutional complaint for a dispute over authority, claiming the measure was an illegal action exceeding discretionary power.

Mayor Jo stated, "Because of my conviction to distribute the emergency disaster relief funds in cash last April, it seems this fear-inducing audit continues, and thinking about the pain our city officials are going through breaks my heart."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the 'Gyeonggi Province District National Assembly Members' Provincial Administration Issues Meeting' held on the 13th at the Gyeonggi Province Governor's official residence in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News

In response, Gyeonggi Province maintains that the investigation of Namyangju City is being conducted according to proper legal procedures and insists on continuing the audit.

Governor Lee said on Facebook on the 23rd, "If there is no wrongdoing, there is no need to refuse or obstruct the audit," adding, "If there are clues of corruption such as media reports or public interest whistleblowing, as a superior institution, we must naturally audit according to the law, and if there is responsibility based on the investigation results, it must be held accountable."

Meanwhile, on the 25th, Democratic Party lawmakers Cho Eung-cheon, Kim Han-jung, and Kim Yong-min, who represent constituencies in Namyangju City, urged Mayor Jo to "accept and sincerely cooperate with Gyeonggi Province's audit."

In their statement, they said, "If there are unfair or unjust points regarding the subject or method of the investigation, they should be clarified during the audit process and resolved through procedures prescribed by the system and law," and added, "We hope that Gyeonggi Province's audit does not escalate into unnecessary political controversy."

Amid this, on the 26th, Mayor Jo filed a constitutional complaint for a dispute over authority and a provisional injunction to suspend the current special investigation at the Constitutional Court.

In his statement, Mayor Jo said, "This Gyeonggi Province audit is defined as violence trampling on my precious life philosophy," and asserted, "I will take all legal measures to examine the illegality, legality, and human rights violations of this audit." This suggests that the conflict over audit authority between the two local governments may escalate to the courts.