Gwangju Buk-gu Council Pays Business Trip Expenses with Gift Certificates, Police to Close Case

Tokyo Study Trip Expenses of 44.43 Million Won Paid with Gift Certificates
4.4 Million Won in Reimbursements Returned Over a Month Late
Council Members: "Not Illegal"
Civil Society: "Inevitable Criticism"

The Gwangju Buk-gu District Council faced controversy after paying for overseas business trip expenses with Onnuri gift certificates, but the police announced that they plan to close the case.

On October 1, the Gwangju Bukbu Police Station told our publication, "After summoning and investigating council members and related council officials, we found no evidence of any violation of relevant laws," adding, "We plan to close the case." The police explained that once travel allowances are paid out, there are no legal restrictions or obligations to return the funds regarding their use, and that this case cannot be considered as using the funds for purposes other than intended.

According to the business trip plan prepared by the Buk-gu District Council, the study group to Tokyo, Japan consisted of 16 people, including 12 council members and 4 staff members, and a total of approximately 44.43 million won was paid into individual accounts. The council members charged this amount onto digital Onnuri gift certificates to pay the travel agency, and in this process, about 4.4 million won in refunds was generated.

There were suspicions that the refunds were not returned in a timely manner, as they were only processed in accounting on September 4, about a month after receiving a response from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

As the controversy grew, all 12 council members held a press conference in front of the Bukbu Police Station on August 8, stating, "Our intention was to support local small businesses, and we returned all of the saved expenses," asserting that there was no illegality. At the time, the council members argued, "If it had been for personal use, there would have been no reason to inquire with the Board of Audit and Inspection and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety about the procedures for handling the saved expenses prior to departure."

Civil society groups have expressed concern at this news. An activist from a local civic organization pointed out, "Just because it did not lead to punishment does not mean responsibility ends," and added, "Paying public funds with gift certificates cannot be free from moral criticism."