Ordinance on Establishment and Operation of Facilities Corporation Deferred by Standing Committee
Former Nam-gu Council Members and Officials Rumored as Successive Candidates for Director
Close Associate of District Mayor Appointed to Urban Regeneration Center Last Year
"Measures Needed to Prevent Recurrence of Controversy"
Gwangju Nam-gu, which previously faced controversy over "reward appointments" after appointing a close associate of the district mayor as the head of an affiliated organization, is now again embroiled in suspicions of pre-arranged appointments ahead of the establishment of the Facilities Management Corporation. Critics argue that the district is undermining itself.
There are concerns that those rumored to be pre-designated for positions could influence the upcoming local elections next year, and that council members may become trapped in political logic, neglecting discussions on the actual effectiveness of establishing the corporation.
According to the Gwangju Nam-gu Council on the 12th, the council's Planning and General Affairs Committee decided to postpone the review of the "Ordinance on the Establishment and Operation of the Nam-gu Facilities Corporation" without a vote for or against during its review of ordinances and general agenda items that day.
It is reported that disagreements persisted among committee members due to suspicions of a pre-arranged appointment for the Facilities Management Corporation director and budget issues related to the corporation's establishment.
As a result, the committee meeting, which started at 10 a.m., was adjourned within about 10 minutes to discuss the agenda. Of the five committee members, two were for and two were against, while one member expressed a desire to postpone rather than decide for or against.
The adjournment lasted for more than two hours, and eventually, after postponing the review, Committee Chair Park Sanggil announced, "The members have agreed to pass the agenda in next month's session, so for now, it will be put on hold," bringing the committee meeting to a close for the day.
The problem is that as suspicions of pre-arranged appointments for heads of district-affiliated organizations continue to arise, the original purpose of their establishment is being undermined. There is also concern that, depending on vested interests with the individuals involved, the review could devolve into a turf war among council members rather than a discussion of the corporation's effectiveness.
Currently, former Nam-gu council members and a former Nam-gu deputy district mayor are being mentioned as possible candidates for the Facilities Management Corporation director position.
Previously, in November last year, Nam-gu appointed Lee Hyun, a former Nam-gu deputy district mayor, as CEO of the newly established Nam-gu Urban Regeneration Village Cooperation Center.
The Urban Regeneration Village Cooperation Center has faced opposition from the council since 2023 due to rumors of pre-arranged appointments for retired public officials. In August last year, the standing committee rejected a proposal for funding the center, citing the lack of specified experience, conditions, and regulations in the recruitment process. However, the proposal was later passed in the plenary session by a majority of council members.
As the rumors of pre-arranged appointments became reality, criticism arose that district-affiliated organizations were turning into private cliques.
At the time, the Gwangju branch of the National Public Officials Union's Nam-gu chapter stated, "The person rumored to be pre-designated is a close associate of the district mayor and wielded significant influence over district administration while in office. Even after retirement, this person continues to intervene in district affairs, and the mayor should withdraw the appointment."
Despite the issues in the process of establishing the center as a corporation, the rapid push for the corporation's establishment within just a few months has led to speculation that it is being rushed with the upcoming local elections in mind.
The district plans to accelerate the establishment of the corporation, even by making a supplementary budget to appoint a director by June. However, opposing council members argue that, given the current financial difficulties, the related budget should be included in next year's main budget.
Additionally, since discussions on the matter have only been held behind closed doors, the reasons and grounds for supporting or opposing the agenda are not recorded in the minutes, making it difficult for residents to judge the establishment of a public institution funded by taxpayers' money.
One Nam-gu council member stated, "It is rare to postpone an ordinance without a vote for or against. A member who did not want their opinion on the agenda to be made public due to political circumstances probably requested the adjournment or expressed a desire to postpone. Since many issues were raised with the Urban Regeneration Cooperation Center, measures must be taken to prevent a recurrence of such problems."
Another council member said, "Although there are concerns about pre-arranged appointments, such suspicions can be addressed through future confirmation hearings, administrative audits, or investigations. It is necessary for council members to prioritize discussions on the effectiveness of establishing the Facilities Management Corporation."
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