Former Provincial Assembly Member A said, "During 8 years of legislative activity, there was absolutely no such fact."
Hwang In-tae, representative of the Western Gyeongnam Press Solidarity, is holding a press conference.
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] On the morning of the 20th, the Western Gyeongnam Press Coalition held a press conference at the briefing room of the Sancheong County Office, urging a county-level investigation into allegations of real estate favoritism involving relatives of a former Gyeongnam provincial assembly member.
Hwang In-tae, representative of the Western Gyeongnam Press Coalition, emphasized, "Since last year, media outlets affiliated with the coalition have reported suspicions of real estate favoritism involving relatives of former assembly member A, but Sancheong County, which aided their real estate speculation and wealth accumulation, has consistently turned a blind eye."
It was alleged that Sancheong County spent 1.1 billion KRW in budget to open and provide convenience for the access road to a country house located in Danseong-myeon, built by the family of former assembly member A, under the pretext of a resident wish project.
Representative Hwang pointed out, "The road, which is over 6 meters wide, does not function as a farm road but serves as an access road to the country house area."
Separately, suspicions of favoritism were also raised regarding the road construction near land owned by an agricultural cooperative corporation affiliated with former assembly member A's family in Sinan-myeon.
Hwang claimed, "Under the name of a resident wish project, a total project cost of 64 million KRW (contract 37.62 million KRW, government-supplied materials 6.45 million KRW) was invested to construct the road through farm road maintenance (300m) and stone wall construction (103㎡)."
He added, "We believe that such budget spending by Sancheong County would have been impossible without coercion by the power of former assembly member A," and urged, "The county should conduct a thorough investigation into the real estate favoritism allegations involving former assembly member A's family, revealing whether former assembly member A was involved and whether county officials cooperated, exposing the truth in detail."
In particular, he emphasized, "Former assembly member A, upon the reporting of their real estate favoritism allegations, has been continuing a cunning tactic to evade responsibility by filing complaints with judicial authorities against reporters affiliated with the press coalition who reported the issue, accusing them of intimidation and other charges."
After the press conference, the press coalition visited the office of Sancheong County Mayor Lee Seung-hwa and the office of Sancheong County Council Chairperson Jeong Myeong-sun in advance to deliver the press release, considering their official schedules.
In response, former assembly member A stated, "During my eight years of legislative activity, there was absolutely no such fact."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
