[National Assembly Audit Hot Figure] Assemblyman Chun Haram Brings Gwanbongkwon to the Audit Room Himself

The "Gwanbongkwon Band" at the Center of Geonjin Beopsa Controversy in the Judiciary Committee
Assemblyman Chun Presents a 1,000-Won Gwanbongkwon During the Parliamentary Audit

Assemblyman Chun Haram of the Reform New Party drew attention at the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee audit by bringing a "Gwanbong-gwon" (bank-sealed currency bundle) with him. While unfamiliar to most people, the Gwanbong-gwon became a topic of public interest after a controversy arose over the loss of the Gwanbong-gwon band in the case involving Geonjinbeopsa, a shaman.

Yonhap News Agency

On October 20, during the Bank of Korea’s parliamentary audit, Assemblyman Chun brought a Gwanbong-gwon that he had personally withdrawn from a commercial bank and used it as a prop during his questioning. The Gwanbong-gwon is a bundle of banknotes wrapped in a cross-shaped band and sealed in plastic, sent from the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation to the Bank of Korea as a guarantee that the amount and condition of the currency are correct. The Bank of Korea then distributes these notes to commercial banks.

During the audit, Assemblyman Chun opened a Gwanbong-gwon containing 1,000 1,000-won notes and handed out bundles of 100 notes, each tied with a band, to Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Changyong and others. He then asked, "Can you tell from which bank and which counter I withdrew this?" Governor Rhee replied, "I don't think I can."

Assemblyman Chun displayed a video clip of Police Superintendent Baek Haeryong at the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, stating, "If the band is present, it can be signed, so it is always possible to trace where the money went." Chun argued, "The issue in the Geonjinbeopsa case concerns the Bank of Korea’s band. While commercial bank bands are stamped to indicate which branch inspected them, the Bank of Korea’s bands are not for identifying the department or person in charge, but rather for tracking manufacturing responsibility." In a phone interview with The Asia Business Daily, Chun explained, "I also wanted to show that ordinary people can obtain a Gwanbong-gwon."

Meanwhile, the Gwanbong-gwon brought by Assemblyman Chun to the audit and the band found on the bundles of cash at the home of shaman Jeon Seongbae, known as Geonjinbeopsa, are different in appearance. The band on the Geonjinbeopsa cash bundles includes the Bank of Korea mark, denomination, amount, machine number, person in charge, issuing bureau, supervisor, and barcode. The band disclosed by Assemblyman Chun contains information such as product name, symbol, quantity, packaging number, and details of inspection and packaging.