Six Local Councils, Including Daegu Metropolitan Council, Raided
"Wasting Taxpayer Money... Strict Punishment Needed"
On May 21, the Uri Welfare Citizens Union issued a statement saying, "The Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency's Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit has conducted a sweeping search and seizure of six local councils in Daegu in connection with overseas training trips marred by controversy, misconduct, and corruption. The targets of the search and seizure include the Daegu Metropolitan Council, as well as the Dong-gu, Seo-gu, Buk-gu, Dalseo-gu, and Gunwi-gun councils." The organization strongly urged, "We must seize this opportunity to eradicate the worst cost-ineffective overseas training corruption and irregularities that waste citizens' tax money."
The Uri Welfare Citizens Union stated, "In December of last year, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission found serious irregularities at the Daegu Metropolitan Council, Dong-gu, Suseong-gu, and Gunwi-gun councils during its inspection of overseas business trips by local councils. The current police investigation can be seen as a continuation of that effort. To date, if we sum up all the overseas training trips taken by local council members, it amounts to world travel. Whenever an opportunity arises, local council members have lost the true function of overseas training, making it difficult to achieve its intended goals. Moreover, with poorly planned programs and reports that barely reach the level of essays, there is no possibility of incorporating advanced policies. For these reasons, we have continuously called for the abolition of such trips."
The Uri Welfare Citizens Union went on to say, "It is deeply regrettable that the highlight of local council members' activities has become 'overseas training' rather than legislative activities such as administrative audits. If they insist on going, we have previously urged that council members should form a travel club among themselves and pay for the trips out of their own pockets. The overseas training trips of local council members, which have been the subject of much controversy and criticism, must be stopped immediately."
The Uri Welfare Citizens Union reiterated, "In order to eradicate corruption related to overseas training trips by local council members, a thorough police investigation and strong punishment are necessary. We once again urge a swift and thorough investigation into allegations of improper use of overseas training funds by local council members, who have forgotten their duties, ignored public sentiment, treated citizens' taxes as personal funds, and lost their qualifications and dignity. The truth must be fully revealed and those responsible must be strictly punished."
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