Injured Veterans Association's 'Internal Division' and Merit Association's False 'Work Records' Fabrication
Proposal to Dismiss Hwang Ilbong, Injured Veterans Association President... Retaliation with Disciplinary Committee Demotion
Merit As
Among the three organizations related to the May 18 Democratic Uprising, the Injured Veterans Association and the Meritorious Persons Association have been engulfed in internal strife due to emerging internal corruption.
Despite being established as public legal entities for a year, they have yet to achieve harmony and are facing a comprehensive crisis.
According to the May 18 organizations on the 7th, on the 5th, the Injured Veterans Association announced an emergency board meeting regarding the dismissal of Chairman Hwang Il-bong. On the same morning, a disciplinary review committee was held at the May 18 Democratic Uprising Education Center.
The Construction Method Association 5·18 Democratic Movement Injured Persons Association and the Meritorious Persons Association held a press conference on the 22nd of last month at the Injured Persons Association office within the 5·18 Memorial Foundation in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, stating, "We will file additional lawsuits and complaints against Mayor Kang Gi-jung of Gwangju and related officials." [Photo by Min Hyun-gi]
The reasons for the dismissal proposal include Chairman Hwang’s unilateral enforcement of a joint declaration ceremony with the Special Forces Comrades Association in February and holding a press conference opposing the establishment of the Jeong Yul-seong Historical Park, 'abuse of authority' by blocking staff access to the Injured Veterans Association website outsourced to an external company, and 'neglect of duty' for failing to approve numerous administrative documents.
In response, Chairman Hwang visited the ongoing disciplinary committee meeting and retorted, "Where is a disciplinary committee held without the chairman’s approval?"
He also revealed that a former executive, Mr. A, who led the disciplinary committee, had been acting as an 'unofficial power broker.' Since the days of the detained Injured Veterans Association before becoming a public legal entity, Mr. A had been issuing separate orders to staff within the association, and when unfair orders were given to him, he was unable to approve administrative documents, explained Chairman Hwang.
Chairman Hwang reportedly notified the suspension of duties to the Injured Veterans Association’s Secretary-General, Organization Director, Disciplinary Committee Chair, and committee members attending the disciplinary meeting and is resisting.
Another public legal entity, the Meritorious Persons Association, was found to have committed embezzlement of public funds and improper use of sponsorship funds during an internal audit conducted in July.
In particular, when the internal audit began, they suddenly prepared attendance records that had not been kept before, and it is known that false documents were created showing that some employees who had been absent without leave were recorded as having worked.
Since the executive team changed in December last year, the Meritorious Persons Association has been confirmed to have paid approximately 2.5 million KRW per month in additional salaries to four general affairs department employees using support funds from the May 18 Memorial Foundation.
The problem is that this support fund was provided without the board of directors’ approval. Given this situation, the Meritorious Persons Association reportedly repeatedly borrowed and repaid money from executives and branch heads to pay salaries to general affairs staff.
Additionally, there are accounting omissions such as purchasing a used car with veterans affairs support funds and reselling it after a month, resulting in a loss of about 5 million KRW, and unclear whereabouts of some sponsorship funds.
Chairman Jeong Seong-guk of the Meritorious Persons Association explained, "The reason behind this was the regret that the wages paid to employees were below the minimum wage level," and added, "During the transition of the executive team, former Chairman Lim also failed to hand over the vehicle."
Notification of suspension of positions for the Secretary General and Organization Director of the Injured Veterans Association, as well as the Chairman and members of the Disciplinary Committee, communicated by Hwang Ilbong, Chairman of the 518 Injured Veterans Association. [Photo by Reader]
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