Gwangju Education Office Hiring Corruption Allegations: Superintendent's Accountability Questioned at National Assembly Audit

Kim Junhyeok: "The Officer Could Not Have Acted Alone"
Lee Jungsun: "I Never Gave Such Instructions"

Lee Jung-sun, Superintendent of Gwangju Office of Education, is reporting on work at the National Assembly Education Committee's audit held at Jeonbuk National University on the 22nd. Photo by Yonhap News

Allegations of hiring corruption at the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education were raised once again during the National Assembly Education Committee's audit. With a personnel officer having been sentenced to prison for document falsification during the hiring process of an auditor, questions focused on whether the superintendent was involved.

Kim Junhyeok, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea representing Suwon-jeong, Gyeonggi Province, pointed out at the audit held at Jeonbuk National University on the 22nd, "This year, the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education received the lowest grade (Grade 4) in the comprehensive integrity assessment by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission."

Assemblyman Kim continued, "A personnel officer was sentenced to prison for manipulating scores to hire the superintendent's high school classmate as auditor. Could this have happened without the tacit approval or instruction from higher-ups?" He further pressed, "There are reports that statements linking the superintendent to the case were made during the investigation. If the prosecution confirms this, will you step down as superintendent?"

Superintendent Lee Jung-sun denied the allegations, stating, "I have never given such instructions." He added, "I also want to verify the facts. If it turns out to be true, I will take legal responsibility, not just resign as superintendent." He went on to say, "This matter has already been reviewed by the Board of Audit and Inspection and investigated by the police, and a decision of no charges was made."

Previously, teachers' organizations held a press conference in front of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, calling for the prosecution to indict those involved without delay. The groups argued, "Since the personnel officer has already been sentenced to prison, a thorough investigation and prosecution of the superintendent and other related parties is necessary."

Meanwhile, Superintendent Lee is currently under investigation by the prosecution on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of the exercise of rights, for allegedly intervening in 2022 to have his high school classmate appointed as auditor during the hiring process at the city education office. The superintendent has filed appeals, claiming that investigative procedures such as search and seizure were unlawful, and is currently awaiting a ruling from the Supreme Court. The personnel officer in charge of the hiring process was indicted for manipulating interview rankings and was sentenced to one year and six months in prison last August.