Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education Staff Urge to Stop Suspicions Regarding Deceased Executive

Suspicions of Connection to 'Jeongwangpan Project'

Do Education Office: "No Confirmed Evidence"

As suspicions arose that a high-ranking official of the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education, recently found dead, was connected to the ‘electronic display board project,’ a sense of bewilderment is spreading among the education office staff.

They are appealing to stop amplifying unconfirmed suspicions, as it could cause greater pain to the deceased and their bereaved family.

Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

According to the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education on the 11th, around 12:11 PM on the 6th, a senior official of the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education, Mr. A, was found dead in an apartment in Mokpo City, Jeonnam. It is known that Mr. A came to the office that morning, completed his work instructions, and then left early saying, “I’m not feeling well, so I will eat porridge at home.”

After Mr. A was found dead, some raised suspicions that it might be related to the ‘electronic display board project.’ This project, initiated during the tenure of former Superintendent Jang Seok-ung from January 2022 to October this year, involved 237 electronic display board contracts issued within the Jeonnam education office jurisdiction, of which company B installed 182 (76.7%), making it a controversial project.

Regarding the suspicion that Mr. A was connected to this project, the education office has drawn a clear line, stating, “There is no confirmation.”

The suspicion about the electronic display board installation has not been clearly proven yet, and if any issues are found after investigation, an audit will be conducted. In this situation, it is considered inappropriate to unconditionally link Mr. A to the electronic display board project.

An official from the education office said, “Such allegations cause irreparable pain and wounds to the surviving family and amount to killing Mr. A twice,” and appealed, “Please stop spreading unconfirmed information.”

Meanwhile, Mr. A was known as a figure who, during his tenure as the head of the Labor-Management Policy Division at the main office, resolved conflicts with the labor union amicably and formed a broad cooperative system. However, it is known that his health was very poor due to work-related stress from that time.

At that time, Mr. A reportedly said, “I want to retire quietly. Being a director of a subordinate institution is fine; I want to be remembered as a good person,” and “Even though it’s hard, I don’t want to show it, but seeing myself getting sick repeatedly, I guess my body is feeling the stress.”

Education office employees find it hard to believe in Mr. A’s death because he was usually very bright and cheerful.

One employee said, “On the day of the incident, after finishing the work report, he held my hand saying, ‘I’m not feeling well, so I’m leaving early.’ There was nothing unusual,” and tearfully added, “I never dreamed that hand would be the last.”

It was confirmed that Mr. A had normal conversations with those around him until an hour before he made the extreme choice.

A close friend, also an employee, said, “When I talked to him around 11 AM, I didn’t feel anything unusual; it’s shocking,” and “He was known as a cheerful person to those around him, but he was very proud and didn’t express his struggles,” shedding tears.

He continued, “I thought he was physically ill, but it seems his heart hurt more than his body. If he was struggling, he should have at least shared his feelings,” and appealed, “The suspicion about the electronic display board is a cruel act to the grieving family and that friend who are already suffering from the shock. Please stop.”

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