Jeon Chun-seong's Aide Clarifies Filial Piety Tour Allegations

Questions are being raised regarding the appointment of an individual, known as County Chief Jeon Chun-seong's closest aide, as Maryeong-myeon Mayor after the election. Reporters are investigating the background of this personnel change following the election and tracing whether it has any connection to past controversies over government intervention in elections.

Reporters raised suspicions about the personnel change after the election, stating, "It is said that the Mayor of Bukgi was appointed as the Mayor of Maryeong after this election."

The secretary to County Chief Jeon Chun-seong refused to answer reporters' questions regarding the police investigation and personnel matters. He stated that he was unaware of police personnel matters and expressed displeasure at the reporters' visit to his office.

The secretary maintained his stance of refusing to answer related questions, saying, "You should go to the police station for police matters, and I told you I don't know about their personnel."

The secretary to County Chief Jeon Chun-seong emphasized that the appointment of a 5th-grade mayor is the exclusive right and discretion of the appointing authority. He criticized the very act of raising suspicions about the personnel process, asserting that civil servant position changes are normal procedures.

The secretary repeatedly stressed the appointing authority's discretion, stating, "Going to inspection, going to Eum-myeon Mayor, all 5th-grade officials here can go anywhere. That is the discretion of the appointing authority."

Reporters pointed out the close physical proximity between the Jinan County Office and the Jinan Police Station, raising suspicions of a lie in the secretary's explanation that he was unaware of police personnel matters. Based on the proximity of the two institutions, reporters analyzed that he could not have been unaware of the appointment in January.

Reporters emphasized the geographical proximity of the two institutions, stating, "The Jinan County Office and Jinan Police Station are very, very close to each other."

The Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency's Sinmungo assignment officer explained that case investigations are conducted by the jurisdictional station, and staff disciplinary matters are transferred to the Audit and Inspection Division. Cases already under investigation by the Jinan Police Station maintain their jurisdiction, and by principle, case investigation and disciplinary matters are handled separately.

The officer stated, "Since the investigation is done by the investigating body, Jinan is already investigating it. Since it's a staff disciplinary matter, I sent it to Jinan Cheongmul."

The Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency's Sinmungo assignment officer stated that a complainant's request to exclude jurisdiction is not always granted. He explained that while investigator replacement is possible, there are limitations to changing the jurisdiction itself.

The officer said, "Recusal is not always granted, and the investigator can be replaced."

Controversy erupted within the police regarding the assignment of cases related to Jinan County. Reporters stated that during the investigation review process, issues with offline civilian complaint assignments were identified, and concerns were expressed about sending the case to the Jinan Police Station. Within the police, there was also a stance that efficiency should be considered under the case assignment rules.

Reporters explained the case assignment process, saying, "I was included. I was asked to take charge of the offline complaint. It went to our review department. And the investigation review department decided to handle this."

A police official stated that in the case of Jinan County, the principle is to assign the case to the place that initially investigated it. For cases in a continuous line, investigative efficiency is considered, and he maintained that there were no problems with investigator Jung Yong-hee's handling of the case.

The police official emphasized principles and efficiency, saying, "At that time, they absolutely said not to send it down to Jinan. But we can't do everything according to their words. We have case assignment rules. I will make sure to call you when I come today."

Reporters criticized the abolition of the prosecutor's direct investigative authority, stating that it has cut off channels for oversight of police investigations. They argued that there is a lack of alternatives beyond appealing to higher police agencies, and suspicions of "covering for one's own" have been raised regarding investigator Jung Yong-hee's handling of the case.

Reporters expressed concern about the police's self-correcting mechanism, stating, "If this is the attitude of the superior police authority, they are saying that there are no problems with investigator Jung Yong-hee's handling of the case."

Jeon Chun-seong, Jinan County Chief's secretary, has been embroiled in controversy over government intervention in elections and violation of civil servants' duty of electoral neutrality, due to his action of pulling out what appeared to be an envelope at a filial piety tour event. Despite these allegations, it has been confirmed that the secretary was promoted to Maryeong-myeon Mayor, further escalating the controversy.

Reporters pointed out the core of the allegations, stating, "When we met this person, he was seen taking out what looked like an envelope on behalf of the County Chief at the filial piety tour. This ultimately raised questions of whether it was government intervention in the election, or a violation of a civil servant's neutrality."

Reporters confirmed that the brother of the Mayor of Bukgi-myeon is the investigative team leader for this case. The individual in question admitted to knowing this fact later, raising questions about whether an investigator with a familial relationship can handle related cases fairly.

Reporters asked, "Did you know that the brother of Mayor Bukgi is the investigative team leader?" and he replied, "He said he knew." The reporter then asked about the knowledge of the familial relationship.

The former secretary (currently the Mayor of Maryeong-myeon) explained that his visit to the filial piety tour site was his customary activity, not instructed by the County Chief. He claimed to have independently performed tasks involving meeting residents, but it was pointed out that residents could misunderstand it as the County Chief's intention during the election period.

Reporters asked, "What was the reason you went to the site then? Was it the County Chief who told you to go?" And the Mayor of Maryeong-myeon replied, "No, it wasn't. It was an activity I did customarily."

The former secretary claimed that the item in question at the filial piety tour site was not an envelope but a list of attendees that he was checking. He explained that he was curious to know who had gathered out of personal curiosity and checked the list.

The former secretary said, "It wasn't an envelope. In my memory, I probably checked the list of who attended our meeting. I was curious to know who had gathered."

The former secretary emphasized that his activities at the filial piety tour site were based on his own voluntary judgment, not at the instruction of the County Chief. He countered that the County Chief is not the kind of person who would ask his secretary to perform such actions.

The former secretary denied any connection with the County Chief, saying, "He has never given me such instructions, and he is not the kind of person who would act that way."

Reporters asked whether the County Chief had reprimanded him for causing controversy, even though there were no instructions from the Chief. However, the former secretary hesitated for a long time before refusing to answer the question, not stating his position.

Reporters asked, "If the County Chief was not involved, then it was reported in local media and caused a stir, right? The County Chief must have reprimanded you, didn't he?" but received no answer.

The former secretary claimed that his promotion to Maryeong-myeon Mayor was a normal personnel change for a civil servant, not due to election merits. He emphasized that it was a legitimate appointment consistent with seniority and personnel factors.

The former secretary said, "As you know, I am a professional civil servant. Civil servants can be appointed based on seniority and personnel factors if they meet the requirements."

The former secretary claimed that he met investigative team leader Jung Yong-hee for the first time on the day of the investigation. However, he explained that he later became aware that Team Leader Jung was a relative, the brother of the Mayor of Bukgi-myeon. Reporters found it difficult to believe that he would not know this fact in a small town.

Reporters asked, "Did you know investigative team leader Jung Yong-hee previously?" And the former secretary replied, "I met him. I met him for the first time." To this, reporters raised doubts, saying, "He's Jung Won-jang's brother. How can you say you don't know that in this small town?"

Reporters expressed serious concerns about the fairness of the police investigation, stating that it is highly likely to be tainted due to internal police conflicts of interest. With the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency adhering to the principle of sending cases to the Jinan Police Station, calls for the prosecutor's direct investigative authority are re-emerging.

Reporters strongly criticized, saying, "Even though the investigation is highly likely to be tainted like this, the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency insists on sending the case to the Jinan Police Station. How can we trust such police?"