Gwangju Nam-gu Council Chairman Personally Paid for Company Dinner, Receives Written Warning from Election Commission

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Hwang Kyung-ah, chairman of the Nam-gu Council in Gwangju Metropolitan City, who paid the secretariat's dinner expenses with a personal card, received a written warning from the Election Commission.

The Nam-gu Election Commission announced on the 25th that it issued a written warning to Chairman Hwang for violating the Public Official Election Act.

The Election Commission reportedly made this decision, judging that the matter was not serious enough to warrant judicial action such as police prosecution.

The Election Commission can take various administrative measures for cases violating the election law, including verbal warnings and urging compliance. Among these, a written warning is the highest level of sanction the commission can impose.

Chairman Hwang was investigated by the Election Commission on suspicion of paying 150,000 won for the dinner of secretariat staff at a sashimi restaurant in Nam-gu on December 19 last year with his personal funds.

This gathering was part of the '2022 Council Secretariat Harmony Festival Unity Event,' organized to strengthen cooperation between Nam-gu council members and secretariat staff.

The total meal cost was 630,000 won, of which 480,000 won was covered by the council's common operating expenses, and the remaining amount was paid separately with Chairman Hwang's personal card.

Under the Public Official Election Act, local council members are prohibited from making donations to constituents of their electoral district or related persons, institutions, organizations, or facilities.

Chairman Hwang said, "I will pay special attention to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future," and added, "I will strive to show a good image through active legislative activities."