Wrapping Up Two Months of Activity, Result Report Scheduled for Adoption at the 2nd Plenary Session on the 8th
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] The Gwangju Buk-gu Council announced on the 6th that the ‘Special Committee for Administrative Investigation on the Operation of Duam 2-dong Community Center (hereinafter referred to as the Investigation Special Committee)’ has concluded the administrative investigation conducted over about two months.
The Investigation Special Committee held its first meeting on February 9 and conducted 10 meetings, one roundtable discussion, and one on-site inspection. They summoned 45 executive branch officials and 3 residents (related to the residents’ council operation) for questioning and answers.
This investigation focused on ▲unclear operation and management of Duam 2-dong Community Center ▲issues in the promotion of public contest projects ▲poor management and operation of the community center by the residents’ council.
In particular, it pointed out the private use of the community center without an official consignment contract, contrary to the original purpose of resident harmony, and the administrative shortcomings in managing and supervising this.
Originally, in April 2014, the ‘Duam 2-dong Community Center Operation Agreement’ was signed between unauthorized institutions and organizations, excluding the Buk-gu Office Mayor (Urban Regeneration Division), who was the management and operation authority of the Duam 2-dong Community Center.
It also pointed out illegal acts such as the transfer of center operation without a property manager in June 2017, holding the responsible department accountable for neglecting management and supervision by tacitly allowing this with an administrative convenience attitude, despite their responsibility to manage shared property as property managers.
The Duam 2-dong Community Center residents’ council, since July 2017, has recognized that it received direct management authority of the center only with a notification certificate issued by the responsible department after an ineffective consignment transfer, and has occupied the shared property of Duam 2-dong Community Center without a formal consignment contract. It was also confirmed that the public contest projects promoted around the center were poorly managed.
The ‘Saessaki Maeul 333 Project’ business plan was pushed forward differently from the original purpose during five revisions, and while promoting the public contest project, expenditures such as labor costs and instructor fees were made not in accordance with subsidy execution standards, resulting in no substantial achievements and only wasting the budget.
It was also confirmed that the community center was locked with a bicycle lock to restrict access, and some committee members used the community center’s official phone number on personal business cards, privatizing the shared property. The investigation pointed out circumstances suggesting that the executive agency took follow-up measures that raised suspicions of favoritism toward the residents’ council.
Through this investigation, the special committee demanded corrective actions including ▲transition of Duam 2-dong Community Center to the ‘former direct management system’ ▲identification of shared property status ▲recovery of subsidy misused funds through audits ▲departmental self-inspections of public contest projects ▲role and organizational reform of the Village Making Support Center ▼organizational restructuring for integrated management of community centers.
Chairman Kim Hyungsu said, “This administrative investigation has become an opportunity to review not only the poor operation and irresponsible passing-the-buck administration of Duam 2-dong Community Center but also other public contest projects in general,” and added, “I hope the executive branch thoroughly implements the corrective action demands derived from this investigation.”
Meanwhile, the result report submitted by the Investigation Special Committee is scheduled to be adopted at the 2nd plenary session on the 8th.
Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong bong2910@asiae.co.kr
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