Administrative Audit: "Wasn't it handled by the County Governor despite illegal farmland conversion?"
County Official: "If necessary, administrative actions like restoration orders will be taken"
County Governor Kim Ki-woong: "Construction was entrusted to experts... no legal violations"
Kim Gi-ung, the governor of Seocheon-gun, Chungnam, and his family have been accused of illegally converting farmland and forest land in connection with the creation of a recreational area.
There were also criticisms that county office officials granted development permits related to applications submitted by Governor Kim’s family without conducting on-site inspections, raising suspicions that the permits were approved smoothly due to their connection with the governor.
On the 25th, Lee Kang-seon, a member of the Seocheon-gun Council, claimed during the Seocheon-gun administrative audit that “Governor Kim and his family illegally converted farmland and forest land in Deokam-ri.” The farmland in Deokam-ri in question was found to be owned by Governor Kim, his wife, and children.
Lee questioned, “Was the farmland maintained as farmland before the development permit was issued? How could a permit be granted when the farmland was illegally converted?” and added, “Shouldn’t the permit be issued only after restoration?”
He further asked, “Was the administration handled this way because of the governor’s farmland?”
He emphasized, “Why is the administration applying a flexible standard? Even if the residents are treated flexibly, public officials should be meticulous in handling complaints related to their families to avoid misunderstandings.”
In response, a county official said, “It was wrong to grant the permit even though the land was not maintained as farmland,” and added, “If necessary, we will take administrative measures such as ordering restoration.”
Lee also raised suspicions that Governor Kim’s family illegally converted forest land while creating the recreational area.
Lee claimed, “Governor Kim’s development application for Deokam-ri was received on January 29, approved on February 1, and a development permit change was applied for on June 4, which was approved the next day.”
He questioned, “How could the related departments coordinate and approve the permit within one day? It usually takes about a week for general complaints.”
He added, “Was there an on-site inspection before granting the permit? The site was inspected together with the head of the responsible department on May 29 and June 18,” and claimed, “The site looked the same on May 29 and June 18, before the development permit change application.”
He then asked, “Are there cases where permits are granted within one day without on-site inspections?”
A county official responded, “It was a work-related negligence. We will take responsibility within the scope we can,” and said, “We will take lawful measures such as imposing fines for illegal conversion according to laws and principles.”
However, Governor Kim denied the allegations, stating, “I did not violate the law,” contrary to the officials’ admission that procedures related to this matter were handled unlawfully.
Governor Kim said in response to Lee’s demand for a statement, “I entrusted the construction to experts and commissioned the work. It is disrespectful to call me here and talk as if I committed a crime,” and swore, “I did not violate the law.”
He added, “I will review the related matters and take action according to legal procedures,” and emphasized, “If I am found guilty by the law, I will take measures. I hope there will be no slander.”
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