Deputy Mayor: "Admit Mistakes but Not a Matter to Halt Audit"
City Council Members Issue Statement... "Demand Mayor Kang Gijeong's Opinion"
Administrative audit of the Industry and Construction Committee of Gwangju Metropolitan Council. Provided by Gwangju Metropolitan Council
The conflict between Gwangju City and the City Council is intensifying over the suspension of the administrative audit due to the submission of ‘incomplete and false data’.
Members of the Gwangju City Council have called for an apology and measures to prevent recurrence, but Deputy Mayor Ko Gwang-wan officially refused to apologize, stating, “While we will improve the issue of incomplete data, I do not believe it is a serious matter warranting the suspension of the audit,” causing the controversy to spread further.
On the 11th, the Industrial Construction Committee of the Gwangju City Council requested the attendance of Deputy Mayor Ko and Deputy Mayor Lee Sang-gap of the Culture and Economy Bureau as witnesses for the administrative audit. That afternoon, the committee questioned Deputy Mayor Ko regarding the incomplete and false preparation of data and false responses related to Gwangju Technopark and the Gwangju Integrated Airport Transportation Bureau.
Deputy Mayor Ko said, “There were discrepancies and errors in the data, which we will improve going forward, but I do not think it is a matter serious enough to halt the audit.”
In response, the council members sharply criticized him.
Councilor Park Su-gi said, “How can it not be serious when there are so many problems with the data used to verify budget execution details?” and added, “The problem lies in the perspective of Gwangju city officials who simply see this as nitpicking,” demanding an apology once again.
Councilor Kang Su-hoon pointed out, “Whether it was intentional or not is something to be determined during the audit. The oath taken during the administrative audit carries a solemn meaning, and failing to uphold it constitutes obstruction of the audit.” Councilors Lim Mi-ran and Shim Cheol-ui also noted, “This is the first time so many institutions have been found with issues.”
Park Pil-soon, Chair of the Industrial Construction Committee, said, “The purpose of the administrative audit is for Gwangju’s administration to move in a positive direction for its citizens,” and added, “The deputy mayor’s response is very regrettable.”
Initially, the Gwangju City Council had agreed to resolve the matter by requesting improvements through each standing committee, but after Deputy Mayor Ko stated he had no intention to apologize, the council issued a statement expressing regret.
In a statement issued under the name of ‘All Council Members,’ the Gwangju City Council said, “It is unreasonable to say that there is regret over mistakes but no apology can be made,” and added, “The behavior and attitude shown by the audited institutions and the deputy mayor are truly regrettable. We demand Mayor Kang Ki-jung’s expression of opinion.”
They continued, “The council wants to conduct an administrative audit based on accurate data and correct responses,” emphasizing, “It is not too late even now. We urge Gwangju City, the party responsible for the disruption, to approach the administrative audit with a sincere apology and a responsible attitude.”
Meanwhile, this year’s administrative audit of the Gwangju City Council has faced disruptions as submitted data from various institutions such as Gwangju Technopark, the Green Car Promotion Agency, the Waterworks Headquarters, Gwangju Urban Corporation, and Gwangju Tourism Corporation have been embroiled in controversies over falsehoods or incompleteness.
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