Jeonbuk City and County Volunteer Centers Operation 'Squeaky'

Jeongeup-si Volunteer Center, Chairman Faces Illegal Political Fund Allegations
Wanju-gun Volunteer Center Under Police Investigation for Budget Cuts and Employee Subsidy Corruption
Others Also Criticized as 'Money Pit' Due to Premature Incorporation

[Jeonju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Han-ho] Volunteer centers in cities and counties of Jeonbuk are facing public criticism.

Contrary to their purpose of helping neighbors in need and promoting community development, they have come under investigation for various criminal allegations, and reckless incorporation as corporations has led to massive waste of public funds.

According to Jeongeup City and the local legal community, the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office Jeongeup Branch reportedly conducted a search and seizure at the homes of the chairman of the Jeongeup Volunteer Center and a close aide to the Jeongeup mayor on the 20th of this month.

Since the current chairman of the volunteer center served as the campaign committee chairman for the Jeongeup mayor in the 2018 local elections, there is speculation in the community that the prosecution is investigating illegal political funds.

In this regard, the current chairman is known to strongly deny these allegations.

The Wanju County Volunteer Center is currently in a state of "business suspension."

This is because the Wanju County Council cut 106,990,000 won from the center's personnel and operating expenses during the 261st extraordinary session on July 22, citing suspicions about the proper use of taxpayers' money.

As a result, the chairman resigned abruptly at that time, and an emergency temporary board meeting was held to elect a new chairman and seek self-help measures.

However, judging that operation of the center was inevitable due to budget cuts, all work was suspended from the 15th of this month.

In addition, allegations of subsidy corruption involving some center employees have surfaced, and an investigation is currently underway at the Wanju Police Station.

The volunteer centers in the other cities and counties are also facing turbulent times.

Since many volunteer centers converted to corporations in 2019, controversies such as the creation of a chairman position above the existing center director, known as "ok-sang-ok" (a roof on top of a roof), and excessive compensation for some center directors have been raised in public opinion.

Because of this, they are facing criticism that the budget provided has increased more after incorporation than when directly managed by the cities and counties.

This is the exact opposite of the intention to have volunteer activities be self-sustaining and independent from city and county support.

Assemblyman A of the Jeonbuk Provincial Council pointed out, "Volunteer centers should be organizations dedicated to practicing local volunteerism with pure intentions and expanding the spirit of sharing and coexistence. Since some volunteer centers are currently operating in a way that disappoints residents and shows operational confusion, it is time to conduct a comprehensive review and devise alternatives."

Jeonju=Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Han-ho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr