Han Jeong-woo, Changnyeong County Governor, Cleared of Charges for Breach of Duty... Green Light for Reelection Bid?

Changnyeong County Governor Han Jeong-woo is encouraging the students participating in the rural women’s professional skills training course for payment specialists on the 4th.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Han Jeong-woo, the governor of Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongnam, was cleared of charges of breach of duty due to insufficient evidence.

Governor Han was accused by a local civic group of causing financial damage to the Sports Association by paying 1.5 million won out of 100 million won in sponsorship funds from NH Nonghyup Changnyeong Branch to two employees in July 2019 as summer vacation expenses while serving as the ex officio president of the Changnyeong-gun Sports Association until January 20, 2020.

The Miryang branch of the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office judged that although Governor Han did pay the vacation expenses, there was no evidence to suggest he knew the source of the vacation funds was a donation.

They reported that he was cleared of charges based on the fact that Changnyeong-gun's ranking significantly improved at the Gyeongnam Provincial Sports Festival that year, the Sports Association Secretariat's operational regulations allow the president to pay activity expenses within the budget, and the nature of subsidies from national or local governments differs from that of donations.

Following the prosecution's judgment that it is difficult to see intentional breach of duty or intent to gain illegal benefits, attention is focused on whether a green light will be given again for Governor Han's bid for re-election in the local elections.