Heoseok, Mayor of Suncheon, Testifies in Trial "I Have Withdrawn from Newspaper Management"

Second Trial of Mayor Heo on 'Misuse of National Subsidies'... Witness Examination Including Newspaper Officials

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Testimony in court revealed that Heo Seok, former mayor of Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do, had withdrawn from managing the Suncheon Citizens' Newspaper since 2004.

In other words, the testimony was favorable to the defendant, stating that there was no reason for the allegation of embezzling regional newspaper development funds from 2006 to 2011.

The Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 3 (Presiding Judge Kim Tae-ho) held a trial for Heo and two others, who were indicted on charges of fraud, and conducted witness examinations of two former newspaper operation committee members.

The defense focused on proving that Mayor Heo was not practically involved in the newspaper’s management.

Mr. Kim, who had served as a member of the newspaper’s operation committee, stated, "I supported the newspaper after seeing Mayor Heo, who had been active since the Labor Issues Research Institute that Opens the Dawn."

Mr. Kim supported the newspaper with 500,000 won monthly from its founding month in March 2001 until February 2004, but stopped the support starting in March.

Regarding the reason, he explained, "Mayor Heo, who had been devoted to labor activities, felt responsible as the head of the family and said he would have to close the newspaper as he started running an academy."

He added that although he began supporting to help Mayor Heo, he stopped because Heo maintained his position as the registered representative and focused on managing the academy.

Later, Mr. Kim resumed support around the summer of 2004.

He added, "It was due to a request for help from former editor-in-chief Jeong Won-hwi, who took over running the newspaper after Mayor Heo."

During cross-examination, the prosecution asked Mr. Kim, assuming that he had not been active as an operation committee member since 2004, "Were you in a position to know specific details about the newspaper’s management?"

Mr. Kim replied, "I have been close to Mayor Heo for nearly 40 years and share most of his private life, so I know almost everything."

Subsequently, Mrs. Park, wife of former editor-in-chief Jeong, also appeared as a witness and explained, "When Mayor Heo expressed his intention to close the newspaper, my husband quit the game center business and took over running the newspaper," adding, "The newspaper office was also moved to my father’s building."

The next trial is scheduled for December 21, during which the defendant’s final argument is expected.

Mayor Heo was indicted on charges of embezzling 160 million won from regional newspaper development funds, which were paid under the name of personnel expenses for freelance experts and intern reporters while he was the representative of the Suncheon Citizens' Newspaper.