Changwon City Council, Administrative Investigation into Myung Tae-gyun's Changwon National Industrial Complex Allegations Fails

The administrative investigation into the suspicion of Myung Tae-gyun's involvement in the selection of the candidate site for the Changwon 2nd National Industrial Complex in Gyeongnam was canceled.

The Changwon Special City Council held the 1st plenary session of the 139th regular meeting on the 25th and presented the agenda item "Proposal for an administrative investigation into the suspicion surrounding the selection of the Changwon Defense and Nuclear Convergence National Industrial Complex candidate site."

During this process, the People Power Party insisted, "Let's wait for the prosecution's investigation results," while the Democratic Party of Korea firmly opposed, saying, "The city council should step in to clarify the suspicions."

Gyeongnam Changwon Special City Council. Photo by Se-ryeong Lee

Park Hae-jung, a Democratic Party member who proposed the agenda, argued for the necessity of the administrative investigation, stating, "Confidential documents related to the national industrial complex selection were handed over to Mr. Myung, who is merely a private individual and not a public official, and suspicions that the site was developed based on his opinions have been emerging one after another."

He added, "It is said that a confidential document of about 170 pages, which summarizes the status of national and public land within Changwon city, large-scale development projects, and possible adjustments to development-restricted zones, was also delivered to Mr. Myung," and "During this process, there are indications that people around him purchased land near the industrial complex, raising suspicions of speculation."

Park Hae-jung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and a city councilor of Changwon-si, Gyeongnam, is urging the implementation of an administrative audit regarding allegations of Myung Tae-gyun's involvement in the selection of the candidate site for Changwon 2nd National Industrial Complex. Photo by Lee Se-ryeong

He explained, "It is said that those who knew that Daesan-myeon was included in the originally applied national industrial complex site to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport protested by visiting the Uichang District Office when Daesan-myeon was excluded."

He also said, "In the second half of 2022, the volume of land transactions in the industrial complex candidate sites increased more than threefold compared to usual, sharply rising just before the site announcement and then returning to previous levels after being designated as a transaction-restricted area," adding, "Notably, 90% of the land transactions that sharply increased from January to March 2023 were in development-restricted zones."

Park emphasized, "We must resolve citizens' suspicions about the manipulation of Changwon city administration, including how confidential documents were delivered to a private individual, whether there was external pressure, the reasons for the suspicious land transaction volumes, whether any internal personnel sought private gain through leaked information, and the extent of Mr. Myung's involvement."

Democratic Party of Korea's Jeon Hong-pyo (top left, counterclockwise) and Seo Myeong-il, People Power Party's Gu Jeom-deuk and Kim Woo-jin, members of Changwon City Council in Gyeongnam, are expressing their opinions on the administrative audit regarding the suspicion of Myung Tae-gyun's involvement in the selection of the candidate site for Changwon 2nd National Industrial Complex. Photo by Lee Se-ryeong

Fellow Democratic Party members Seo Myeong-il and Jeon Hong-pyo supported Park's remarks during the pro-discussion, saying, "The whole country is paying attention to Changwon, so wouldn't it be shameful if our city council remains silent?" and "To ensure that the efforts of public officials for the future of Changwon, a city of one million people, are not wasted because of one person, Mr. Myung, let's clearly reveal the truth through an administrative investigation."

In opposition, People Power Party members Kim Woo-jin and Gu Jeom-deuk argued, "Since the prosecution is currently investigating, even if the city council intervenes, it will be difficult to secure materials, and it will only waste administrative resources and damage the current administration," and "The materials provided by the city were given to the general director of the office affiliated with the council member for the purpose of a business agreement with the local district council member, and this matter should be seen as Mr. Myung's personal deviation."

In the subsequent vote, out of 43 members present, all 16 Democratic Party members voted in favor, while all 27 People Power Party members voted against, resulting in the rejection of the agenda.

Immediately after the city council session, the Democratic Party city council members issued a press release expressing "deep regret over the abandonment of an issue accompanied by nationwide suspicions and doubts," and stated, "The Democratic Party city council members will make efforts through various channels to uncover the truth and ensure the smooth progress of the Changwon National Industrial Complex project."