Gwangju Office of Education Banners Spark Controversy Over Legal Violations and Budget Waste

Civic Group: "43 Banners Installed, 40 Million Won Spent... Political Publicity Suspected"
"Potential Violations of Outdoor Advertisement Act and Public Official Election Act"
Office of Education: "Sharing Achievements... Will Review Laws and Make Improvements"

The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education has come under criticism from a civic group for repeatedly installing banners on the exterior walls of its headquarters, allegedly violating the Outdoor Advertisement Act and potentially being perceived as politically motivated publicity. Despite spending tens of millions of won on producing and installing these banners, the process has been conducted without internal guidelines, leading to accusations of showcasing administrative achievements rather than substantive governance. In response, the Office of Education stated, "The banners are merely a means to share educational achievements with citizens," and pledged to review relevant laws and make improvements.

Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education.

On July 16, the civic group Citizens' Coalition for an Academic-Free Society stated, "Since Superintendent Lee Jeongseon's inauguration, a total of 43 banners have been installed on the exterior walls of the Office of Education headquarters, with a total budget of approximately 40 million won." The group further pointed out, "A significant number of these banners violate the Outdoor Advertisement Act, and in particular, they can be interpreted as politically charged publicity materials highlighting the superintendent's achievements."

According to the current enforcement decree of the Outdoor Advertisement Act, only one banner may be installed on the exterior wall of a public office building for the purpose of promoting major policies or events, and it must be displayed for no longer than 30 days. However, according to the group, as of this date, a total of three banners were installed on the exterior walls of the main and annex buildings of the Office of Education, with one of them exceeding the 30-day installation period. The civic group claimed, "Such violations are not isolated incidents but have occurred repeatedly."

The banners include content such as the results of pledge fulfillment evaluations, selection for Ministry of Education projects, and securing general grants. The group stated, "With less than a year remaining until next year's local elections, such content could be perceived as pre-election campaigning and may violate the obligation of political neutrality required of public officials."

Criticism was also raised regarding the method of budget execution. The group argued, "The budget for each banner ranges from at least 200,000 won to as much as 1.8 million won, yet there is no guideline or department within the Office of Education to oversee or control this, resulting in indiscriminate operation." They added, "At a time when the education budget is under austerity, wasting funds on publicity that borders on display administration is unacceptable," and demanded immediate removal and improvement.

The Office of Education responded, "The banners are not about the personal achievements of the superintendent, but are a means to share accomplishments achieved by the educational community as a whole with citizens." The office further explained, "They also include information on policies and issues that the local community needs to know about, such as the spread of the spirit of the 5·18 Democratization Movement, the promotion of integrity, and the prevention of school violence."

Regarding the criticism of lacking budget standards, the Office stated, "Costs can vary depending on the location, design, and equipment rental for the banners," and added, "We will share specifications, unit prices, and installation methods among departments to ensure consistency in budget execution." The Office also explained, "We will minimize the use of banners, focusing only on times and content when publicity is truly necessary."

Concerning possible violations of the Public Official Election Act and the Outdoor Advertisement Act, the Office stated, "Recently, all publicity materials have been subject to prior review by the Election Commission, and at the request of the Seo-gu District Office for voluntary removal, all banners except one will be taken down." The Office of Education added, "We will thoroughly review relevant laws and provide guidance to the headquarters and affiliated organizations to ensure that publicity is conducted fairly and transparently."