Goyang City Expresses Strong Regret Over Distortion of Personnel Audit Results... Urges End to Political Offensive

Goyang City: "Premature Legal Conclusions Are Regrettable"
Audit Scope Covers Four Years Including the 7th Administration
No Mention of 'Personnel Manipulation'... Administrative Audit Politicized

Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province has strongly expressed regret over the recent allegations of "personnel manipulation during the 8th popularly elected administration," which were raised based on the results of a personnel audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection, calling them "a clear political offensive that distorts the facts."

A view of Goyang Special City Hall. Provided by Goyang Special City.

On January 2, Goyang Special City issued an official statement, refuting each issue point by point and stating that some city council members are using the audit results as a political tool.

First, the city dismissed the claim by certain council members that the matter constitutes "personnel manipulation during the 8th popularly elected administration," stating, "Nowhere in the audit results is such a judgment or expression found." The city explained that the audit was an "administrative audit" that examined the appropriateness of procedures and documentation in individual promotion deliberations, and did not include any findings that the personnel management of a particular administration constituted manipulation.

The city also pointed out distortions regarding the audit period. The audit covered the period from 2020 to 2023, which includes both the 7th administration under the previous mayor and the current 8th administration led by Mayor Lee Donghwan. The city emphasized, "Although the audit reviewed long-standing accumulated personnel practices, singling out only the 8th administration is a deliberate misinterpretation."

The city also drew a clear line regarding the claims by council members that criminal offenses such as "obstruction of official duties by hierarchical order" and "forgery of official documents" had been committed.

A Goyang Special City official explained, "The audit results did not determine whether any criminal offenses had occurred. The issues raised pertain to procedural problems, such as previous disciplinary records not being included in the review documents. If there had truly been any criminal violations, the Board of Audit and Inspection would have directly filed a complaint."

Previously, on December 24, 17 members of the Goyang City Council from the Democratic Party of Korea filed a police complaint against the then-head of personnel affairs, citing the Board of Audit and Inspection's findings and strongly criticizing the city administration.

In response, Goyang Special City stated, "We are currently proceeding strictly with disciplinary actions in accordance with the audit results and are working to improve systems to enhance transparency in personnel procedures." The city added, "However, using the results of an administrative audit as a political slogan is far removed from solving problems for citizens."