'Inflated Business Trip Expenses'... Police Raid Three District Councils in Gwangju

Police Raid Administrative Offices of Dong-gu, Seo-gu, and Gwangsan-gu Councils
Secure Overseas Trip Expense Records
Administrative Staff Booked and Under Investigation

The police, who are investigating allegations of inflated overseas business trip expenses, conducted simultaneous raids on three district councils in Gwangju.

Gwangju Police Agency.

On August 29, the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the Gwangju Police Agency dispatched investigators to the Dong-gu, Seo-gu, and Gwangsan-gu district councils in Gwangju to execute search and seizure warrants. It is reported that the police secured materials related to overseas business trip expenses from computers and other devices at each council's administrative office.

The Gwangju Metropolitan Council, which faces similar allegations, was excluded from this round of raids. The police stated that they are leaving open the possibility of conducting a search and seizure at the Gwangju Metropolitan Council in the future.

The police have booked and are questioning administrative staff members of each council office, but it has been reported that, as of now, no metropolitan or district council members have been booked.

Previously, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission reviewed 915 overseas business trips organized by local councils over a three-year period from January 2022 to May last year. The commission found hundreds of cases where expenses were inflated, such as through the falsification or alteration of airline tickets, and requested investigations by police agencies and stations nationwide.