Sancheong County Nonghyup New Chairman Claims "County Governor Lee Seunghwa Requested Personnel Favor," Causing Controversy

County Governor Lee Seunghwa: "We intend to hold legal responsibility"

Gyeongnam Sancheong County Nonghyup, the nation's first integrated agricultural cooperative, has been embroiled in controversy over patronage appointments following the inauguration of newly elected chairman Cho Chang-ho last month.

Cho, who was elected as the youngest chairman in Gyeongnam, sparked public outcry by attempting to recruit his followers as executives immediately after taking office. The controversy escalated when it was revealed that an associate of Chairman Cho tried to bribe a reporter covering the issue.

Jochangho, Chairman of Sancheong Nonghyup, Gyeongnam.

According to Sancheong County Nonghyup on the 12th, Cho, who received support from 44% of the cooperative members in the nationwide simultaneous chairman elections held on the 8th of last month, was inaugurated as the 19th chairman of Sancheong County Nonghyup on the 21st of last month.

Afterward, less than two weeks into his term, on the 4th, Chairman Cho attempted a large-scale retaliatory personnel reshuffle by assigning senior executives who did not support him, including the head of the main branch, to less important positions, while promoting employees who supported him to key posts. However, this move was blocked by the opposition of the standing director and failed to materialize.

Amid this situation, an associate of Chairman Cho tried to placate a reporter from a certain media outlet investigating allegations of bribery in the cooperative’s election by handing over 10 million won on the 4th. During a series of meals with the reporter, the associate also claimed to have received a personnel request from County Governor Lee Seung-hwa, causing further controversy.

On the 5th, at a dinner with a central press reporter stationed in Sancheong County, Chairman Cho stated, “Governor Lee Seung-hwa recently requested that Mr. A, who was promoted to a managerial level, be appointed as branch manager,” sparking a scandal. In response, Governor Lee Seung-hwa declared, “I have never uttered a single word to the chairman regarding Nonghyup personnel matters,” and expressed his intention to pursue legal responsibility.

Additionally, Chairman Cho has faced criticism inside and outside the cooperative for ‘personnel irregularities,’ including preemptively nominating his personal driver for preferential hiring by the cooperative even before his inauguration.