Resident: "People Power Party Asked Me to Take Charge, But I Refused"
Kim Kiwoong, the governor of Seocheon County in South Chungcheong Province, is currently under investigation by the South Chungcheong Provincial Election Commission for alleged violations of the Public Official Election Act. Amid this, controversy has arisen as his executive secretary is also suspected of engaging in preliminary electioneering.
According to an Asia Economy report on the 16th, Mr. A, Kim's executive secretary, was appointed as a Grade 6 special position executive secretary in 2022 when Kim took office as governor.
Despite being prohibited from engaging in party or political activities under the Local Public Officials Act, Mr. A reportedly called local resident Mr. B in Seocheon last May and asked him to serve as the local representative for the People Power Party.
This has led to speculation that Mr. A, while receiving a salary from taxpayers, may have been involved in party organization activities to support Kim's re-election.
In particular, as Kim is currently being investigated by the South Chungcheong Election Commission for allegedly inviting county officials to his log cabin to promote his achievements?raising suspicions of preliminary electioneering?there are now concerns that both the governor and his secretary may have engaged in such activities targeting local residents.
Resident Mr. B stated, "Mr. A called me in May and asked me to take on the role of local representative for the People Power Party, but I declined."
In a phone interview with Asia Economy last June, Governor Kim explained, "I listened to the difficulties faced by lower-ranking officials, whom I hardly knew, over wine at my home and told them that good things like promotions might happen if I was re-elected. I only showed them a video that was broadcast on YouTube."
Another resident commented, "I thought Governor Kim, who had experience running companies and serving as head of the fisheries cooperative, would revitalize Seocheon's economy and dedicate himself to regional development, but all these allegations of misconduct are truly disappointing. It seems he hired an executive secretary and became governor for his own personal gain."
An anonymous public official said, "With these allegations against the governor, the atmosphere in the organization is very bad, and hearing about this new incident leaves me speechless. When I meet people from other regions for training, all they talk about is Seocheon. I'm too embarrassed to say I'm a Seocheon County official."
Attempts were made to contact Mr. A through the governor's office for comment, but no response was received.
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