Suspicions have arisen that the project funds for safe housing for salt farm workers were used to purchase land belonging to the brother of a former Shinan County mayor, sparking anticipated controversy.
Reporters inquired about whether Shinan County had authorized the use of these project funds for purposes other than their intended use, and the basis for such authorization.
Shinan County stated that it had never authorized the use of these project funds for hotel land purchase, thus increasing suspicions of fund misappropriation.
Shinan County considers this act a violation of the Shinan County Ordinance on Promotion and Management of Private Consignment of County Affairs and the consignment contract clauses. In particular, regarding the unilateral false claim that Shinan County approved the use of consignment funds for unintended purposes, Shinan County clearly stated that no such approval was given.
Accordingly, Shinan County is demanding the return of the project funds from the company, but the company is refusing to comply.
Chairman Park Woo-deuk is the brother of former Mayor Park Woo-ryang.
Reporters suggested that this incident is not merely a simple misappropriation of project funds but potentially a large-scale corruption involving the former mayor and his relatives.
Reporters questioned Chairman Park Woo-deuk about the reason for purchasing land in Janggam-ri, Aprae-eup, around June 2020 when the national road route was confirmed, and the circumstances under which he sold most of that land to the Jangwon CEO's side in early 2025.
They also asked whether he was aware of or had discussed in advance the fact that the Jangwon CEO's corporate entity purchased that site as hotel land using project funds for the safe housing for salt farm workers in Shinan County.
Furthermore, they demanded answers regarding allegations of unreasonable demands related to project fund execution, suspicions that land owned by the mayor's relatives was included within the Janggam-ri hotel site, and allegations of collusion with Jangwon's CEO.
It was also pointed out that this incident is intertwined with former Mayor Park Woo-ryang's political background and could lead to issues of accountability for former Chairman Jeong Cheong-rae, who decided on the nomination.
Accordingly, they urged that the case be transferred to at least a regional or central investigation agency for a thorough investigation, demanding that the truth be revealed through a fair investigation.
Answers come from the transcript, with the exact spot cited.
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