Song Guigun, Candidate for Goheung County Governor, Highlights Serious Issue of Preferential Treatment in Private Contracts to Specific Companies

Gong Young-min and Governor Song's 4-Year Term: 3,200 Out of 6,427 Private Contracts Executed by 35 Companies

Goheung County Office

[Goheung=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] It has been confirmed that Song Gwi-geun, candidate for Goheung County Governor, concentrated half of the 3,200 out of 6,427 construction projects commissioned by Goheung County over the past four years through private contracts to 35 companies.

During the past 6th local government term, Song Gwi-geun criticized the excessive number of private contracts and the practice of favoring certain companies through them, expressing his intention to "reform Goheung County."

Based on data disclosed on the Goheung County Contract Information Disclosure System, the election campaign committee of candidate Gong Young-min conducted a full survey of the contractors for 6,427 construction projects commissioned privately by Goheung County during Song Gwi-geun’s four-year term from July 1, 2018, to the 21st of this month. The results revealed that 35 companies carried out 3,200 projects, accounting for 50% of all projects, as announced yesterday.

In particular, the company that won the most projects through private contracts during Song Gwi-geun’s term was S Construction located in Duwon-myeon, which received 1.96745 billion KRW for 179 projects through private contracts alone.

Following this, D Construction and H Construction, which share the same address as S Construction, received 142 and 69 projects respectively through private contracts during Song’s tenure.

These three companies secured a total of 390 projects through private contracts with Goheung County, amounting to 5.74321 billion KRW.

Additionally, companies N, D, and D Construction, all headquartered in Goheung-eup, won 150, 114, and 64 projects respectively through private contracts during Song’s four-year term, totaling 331 projects and approximately 5 billion KRW. Similarly, M Construction and J Construction, headquartered in the same myeon, secured 113 and 89 projects respectively through private contracts, totaling 202 projects and receiving a total of 2.6399 billion KRW.

Furthermore, among 130 shelter installation, repair, and maintenance projects promoted by Goheung County over the past four years, 53 projects, or 40.7%, were concentrated to specific companies through private contracts.

Notably, one company was confirmed to have won a total of 95 projects through private contracts during Song’s four-year term, including 53 shelter-related projects.

In response, candidate Gong Young-min stated, “Four years ago, Song Gwi-geun criticized the excessive number of private contracts and favoritism toward certain companies in Goheung County and became county governor, but once in office, he himself concentrated about 6,000 private contracts to only 35 companies, breaking his promise to the residents.” He added, “The wise residents will judge Song Gwi-geun, who failed to break this private contract practice.”