Gyeongnam Provincial Council Members Investigated for Inflating Travel Expenses with Photoshop

A Gyeongnam provincial councilor, six council staff, and six travel agency representatives are under police investigation for allegedly inflating overseas travel expenses. The group is accused of manipulating flight ticket prices using Photoshop to pocket 66 million won over 12 trips to destinations like Japan and Thailand between 2022 and 2024.

While only one councilor was directly involved in inflating expenses, approximately 200 councilors participated in these inflated overseas trips, averaging over three trips per person. Police suspect this practice became routine due to tight budgets and difficult expense reporting, with those involved showing little moral concern.

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Tight overseas travel budgets and difficult expense reporting for certain items made inflating travel expenses a routine practice whenever going on overseas trips.

The investigation was prompted by a report from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, which had previously identified eight cases of altered flight tickets totaling 34 million won. However, the police investigation uncovered 12 cases, amounting to 32 million won more than the commission's findings.

Authorities are continuing their investigation, believing more individuals may be involved. The case highlights a pattern of financial impropriety within the provincial council's overseas travel practices.

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Related individuals are still being investigated as there are more people involved.