Mayor Park Hong-ryul Issues Statement on Crematorium 'Corruption Case'

Mokpo City Requests 'Strict Legal Action'

Mokpo City in Jeollanam-do has expressed its position by requesting strict legal action from judicial authorities regarding media reports on corruption incidents involving the subcontracted operator of the crematorium Seunghwawon.

According to the city on the 23rd, Mayor Park Hong-ryul judged the recent multi-billion won embezzlement case involving the former representative of Seunghwawon, Mokpo City's crematorium, which was revealed through recent broadcast reports, as a serious matter and issued a statement personally.

Mokpo Mayor Park Hong-ryul is issuing a statement regarding corruption at the crematorium Seunghwawon.
[Photo by Mokpo City]

Mayor Park Hong-ryul promised, “Mokpo City will actively cooperate with the investigation to ensure the truth of this incident is clearly revealed, and will strengthen supervision going forward to thoroughly inform citizens of the results.”

He continued, “Seunghwawon crematorium was established with a massive 12.4 billion KRW in public funds, including national and city budgets, from 2008 to 2015,” adding, “In recent years, corruption has occurred, and the allegations have been exposed, leading to investigations and prosecutions by judicial authorities, as reported repeatedly.”

Quoting reports that the former representative of the company subcontracted to operate Seunghwawon embezzled several billion won in cremation fees from the crematorium and is facing charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, he said, “Traces have emerged during the investigation showing that citizens’ precious assets were diverted and intended to be used by immoral forces, causing shock and anger among the citizens.”

He stated, “Following this incident, some have raised strong suspicions that the embezzled funds may have flowed to certain local political forces, and I hope the truth will be revealed without any doubt,” emphasizing, “Cremation fees are public funds that must be used entirely for public facilities such as the renovation of the crematorium and belong to the citizens of Mokpo.”

In particular, he stressed, “The former representative of the company subcontracted to operate Seunghwawon is under investigation for illegally using public funds amounting to 1 billion KRW over about ten occasions,” and “This company was reselected as the subcontracted operator in December 2021 while under investigation for embezzlement charges.”

He added, “At that time, controversy arose over the reselection of a company under investigation for embezzlement, and suspicions of collusion with certain political forces behind the scenes were also raised.”

Mayor Park Hong-ryul said, “Seunghwawon crematorium is the property of Mokpo citizens, and the fees generated here must be used for the public good,” and “Mokpo City expects strict additional investigations and judgments by the relevant authorities so that citizens can be convinced. Depending on the judicial authorities’ actions, we will take strong administrative measures such as clarifying responsibilities and reviewing the subcontracting relationship if necessary.”