Gwangju Teachers' Groups Urge Immediate Indictment of Superintendent Lee Jeongseon

Audit Officer Recruitment Corruption Remains Unresolved
"Administrative Officer Sentenced to Prison, Superintendent Cannot Avoid Responsibility"
"All High-Ranking Officials and Businesspeople Involved Must Be Prosecuted"

Teacher organizations, including the Gwangju branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU), urged the prosecution to swiftly indict Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Lee Jeongseon on October 20.

Teacher organizations holding a press conference urging the prosecution of Superintendent Lee Jeongseon in front of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office on the morning of the 20th. Photo by Song Bohyun

The Gwangju branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, the Gwangju Teachers' Union, and the Gwangju Practical Education Teachers' Association held a press conference in front of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office that day. They stated, "The 'audit officer recruitment corruption' that surfaced immediately after Superintendent Lee took office has not been resolved even as his term nears its end," and insisted, "The prosecution must indict him immediately without any political considerations."

The organizations emphasized, "The administrative officer in charge of recruitment has already been sentenced to prison in the first trial and is currently serving time," adding, "During the trial, statements and evidence regarding whether the superintendent gave instructions were acknowledged." They further stated, "Not only Superintendent Lee but also all high-ranking officials and businesspeople involved in bribery and bid-rigging must be prosecuted without exception."

Superintendent Lee has been under investigation by the prosecution since 2022 on charges of abuse of power for allegedly intervening in the appointment of his high school classmate as audit officer during the recruitment process at the city education office. The superintendent has filed appeals against the prosecution's investigative procedures, such as search and seizure, claiming they were illegal, and is currently awaiting a ruling from the Supreme Court.

The administrative officer in charge of recruitment at the city education office was indicted for obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means, including instructing evaluation committee members to alter candidate rankings for the audit officer position. In August, the officer was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.

The teacher organizations reiterated, "A thorough investigation and prosecution of the superintendent and those involved are essential to eradicate corruption in education."