Report of Misconduct Against Governor Kim and Team Leader Filed at Chungnam Provincial Government's National Petition Office... "Called Home to Explain the Need for Re-election"
Governor Kim: "Listened to Complaints... Showed a Broadcast Video Rather Than YouTube"
![[Exclusive] Seocheon County Office Official Raises Allegations of Pre-Election Campaigning by County Governor Kim Gi-woong](https://cphoto.asiae.co.kr/listimglink/1/2024061114151312461_1718082913.jpg)
An official from Seocheon County Office in Chungnam raised allegations that County Governor Kim Gi-woong called public officials to his home to explain the necessity of his re-election, engaging in pre-election campaigning.
A person identified as A, presumed to be an employee working at Seocheon County Office, reported on the 3rd to the Chungnam Provincial Government’s People’s Petition and Public Interest Reporting section allegations of donation acts and conspiracy for pre-election campaigning involving Governor Kim and team leader B at the county office.
A claimed that B, after Kim’s inauguration in 2022, leveraged a personal friendship with Kim and his wife to coerce and instruct employees to engage in private activities unrelated to work outside working hours, ordered and conspired in illegal acts, violated duties of integrity, and engaged in mediation.
A pointed out, “B caused leakage of county administrative work and budget through misconduct and illegal acts beyond his official duties and illegally supported the governor’s private activities,” adding, “He committed multiple illegal acts including violating the political neutrality obligation of public officials and the Public Official Election Act.”
Furthermore, A added, “B gave his ID and password to C to complete cyber education and obtain education scores to obstruct official duties for his promotion to section chief.”
He explained, “It is estimated that C took the cyber education on behalf of B from January to May 2023.”
Regarding Governor Kim, A alleged, “He called county office department and division employees to Kim’s log cabin and made them watch Kim’s promotional video, providing wine and other items to conspire in donation acts and pre-election campaigning.”
He described, “The promotional video was a broadcast-related video of Governor Kim, and at this event, Kim drank wine with the employees and gave a speech on why he should be re-elected,” noting that “the number of attendees was between 7 and 9.”
In response to these claims, the Seocheon County Office audit department received related materials from the Chungnam Provincial Government on the 4th and is currently investigating the facts.
Governor Kim Gi-woong explained, “I drank wine with lower-ranking public officials whom I barely know at my home, listened to their work difficulties, and said that good things like promotions would happen if I am re-elected,” adding, “I just showed a video from a broadcast that I saw on YouTube.”
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