Locally elected members of the People Power Party in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, are embroiled in a conflict over the use of monthly fees they have paid over the past two years.
According to Maeil Shinmun on the 20th, since the opening of the 9th local council in July 2022, basic council members were reportedly to pay 100,000 KRW, metropolitan council members 200,000 KRW, and heads of organizations and metropolitan council chairs 300,000 KRW each month. This money was said to have been paid under the pretext of being used for fostering camaraderie among People Power Party elected officials, meal expenses, and costs necessary for operating the Gyeongsan party district.
The money paid over two years was deposited into an account opened under the name of Gyeongsan city council member A and used accordingly. When council member A was hospitalized for health reasons, council member B took over management. Later, during the election for the second half chairperson of the Gyeongsan city council last month, conflicts arose among People Power Party council members, leading to disputes related to this money.
They stated, “Even when friends pool money for a rotating savings scheme, they regularly disclose how much was collected and how it was used. So why have the elected officials of a public party never once revealed how the money they paid was used?” They added, “If the undisclosed reasons are not revealed continuously, we will file a police complaint against council member B.”
On the other hand, council member B reportedly said, “When this money was collected, it was agreed to 'neither ask nor question,' and now they are demanding disclosure.” B’s position is that “It is impossible to reveal who paid how much, the total amount collected, or how it was used.”
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