Gwangju Office of Education Faces 'Favoritism' Allegations Over Disaster Preparedness Project

21 Out of 30 Schools Signed Contracts with the Same Company
Foundation Director, Also Serving as Supplier Representative

The Gwangju Office of Education’s disaster preparedness supplies distribution project, launched for the first time this year, has become embroiled in controversy over fairness due to contracts being concentrated with a specific company. It has been revealed that a company represented by a director of a foundation funded by the Office of Education supplied goods to many schools. However, the Office of Education does not verify company names even during the settlement process, raising the need for an audit.

2025 Gwangju Office of Education Disaster Preparedness Supplies Distribution Project Execution Status. Among a total of 30 schools, 21 schools have signed contracts with Company A, showing a tendency for the project to be concentrated on a specific company. Provided by Society for a World Without Academic Discrimination

The civic group Citizens’ Coalition for a Society Without Academic Discrimination issued a statement on the 17th, raising concerns about fairness. The group stated, "A disaster preparedness supplies and storage kit distribution project, worth a total of 90 million won and targeting 30 elementary, middle, high, and special schools in the Gwangju area, is being executed in a way that is heavily skewed toward a specific company."

According to settlement statements and receipts obtained by the group through a request for information disclosure, it was confirmed that many schools purchased disaster preparedness supplies from Company A, located in Buk-gu, Gwangju. Although each school was allocated a budget of 3 million won and was supposed to execute the purchase independently, contracts were concentrated with one company. The price of Company A’s products listed on the School Market (S2B) website matched the support amount provided to each school. The Gwangju Office of Education does not receive separate reports on company names during the settlement process.

Disaster safety relief kit sales information from Company A posted on the School Market (S2B) website. The support amount per school is set at 3 million won, which is the same as the price offered by Company A. Provided by Hakbeolneun Society

Additionally, the representative of Company A is also a director of the Gwangju Hope Ladder Education Foundation, a public interest corporation funded by the Gwangju Office of Education, and is reportedly involved in supplying other products to schools, such as automated external defibrillators. The civic group stated, "There have been similar cases of unfair execution in the past," and warned, "If the Gwangju Office of Education does not take corrective action this time, we will use every possible means, including a public interest audit request to the Board of Audit and Inspection, to ensure the fairness and transparency of education finances."