Controversy Erupts Over Appointment of Director With Five Prior Convictions at Jeonbuk Seoul Scholarship Dormitory

Director Han Heekyung Faces Controversy Over Drunk Driving and Unlicensed Driving Record
Jeonbuk Province: "No Procedural Issues"

There is a growing controversy over the morality of the newly appointed director of the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Seoul Scholarship Dormitory, which houses local students who have come to study in Seoul, as the appointee has five prior criminal convictions. Records from 12 to 13 years ago, including drunk driving and driving without a license, have become an issue, but Jeonbuk Province stated that these do not constitute grounds for disqualification under the Local Public Officials Act.

Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Seoul Scholarship Dormitory. Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province

According to Yonhap News and other sources on September 9, Han Heekyung, former Jeonbuk Provincial Council member, was appointed as the director of the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Seoul Scholarship Dormitory on September 1. The dormitory, located in Bangbae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, is a privately commissioned institution under the Jeonbuk Lifelong Education Scholarship Promotion Agency, which is funded by Jeonbuk Province. It was established in 1992 to support university students from Jeonbuk who come to study in Seoul, and currently houses about 300 students.

The newly appointed director, Han, is a native of Jeonju and has been active in politics, serving as the Director of the Women's Bureau of the Jeonbuk Provincial Branch of the Democratic Party, Vice Chairperson of the National Women's Committee of the Democratic Party, and Co-Representative of the Yeomin Forum. She also served as a provincial council member for six months starting in January 2018, succeeding a proportional representative seat vacated by a Democratic Party council member who lost their position due to a violation of the Public Official Election Act.

Director Han has a total of five prior convictions: three for drunk driving, one for driving without a license, and one for violating the Public Official Election Act. Her criminal record, which has long been associated with her in local political circles, has resurfaced as a point of controversy in relation to her appointment as director of the Seoul Scholarship Dormitory.

However, it has been determined that there are no legal issues with Han's appointment under the Public Official Election Act and the Local Public Officials Act. While both acts include provisions restricting employment for up to 10 years following the confirmation or completion of a sentence, all of Han's convictions date back 12 to 13 years.

An official from Jeonbuk Province, which is responsible for the management and supervision of the affiliated institution, stated, "We believe the appointment was made in accordance with procedures, as she did not fall outside the eligibility criteria."

Lee Hyunwoong, head of the Jeonbuk Lifelong Education Scholarship Promotion Agency, which appointed the director of the Seoul Scholarship Dormitory, said, "The review committee objectively evaluated only the director's eligibility requirements," but added, "I wonder what would have happened if we had known in advance about her past and included qualitative factors in the assessment."

In a phone interview with Yonhap News, Director Han stated, "I do not think there is any need to make excuses for my past mistakes. I have always lived with a sense of self-reflection," and added, "I will use this opportunity as a lesson and strive even harder to become someone who is truly needed by the nation and the local community."