Hwasun County mayor, officials sent to prosecutors over bribery allegations

The mayor of Hwasun County in South Jeolla Province and three public officials have been sent to prosecutors on suspicion of receiving bribes and awarding preferential non-bid contracts. The investigation, led by the Gwangju Police Agency's Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Investigation Unit, also includes the CEO of a construction company and seven others.

Gu Bok-gyu, the mayor, and the officials are accused of signing nine non-bid contracts with a specific construction company between October 2023 and April 2024 in exchange for money. The total value of these contracts is substantial, though the exact figures for the contract amounts and the bribes received are not being disclosed pending further investigation by the prosecution.

Investigators allege that the group exploited a loophole in the regulations. Non-bid contracts for businesses led by women have a limit of 50 million won, while general companies face a limit of 20 million won. The suspects allegedly used companies fronted by women to secure contracts worth hundreds of millions of won, far exceeding the intended limits.

It is further alleged that the construction company, after winning these contracts through a broker, then subcontracted the work to other firms. The police stated that the investigation is ongoing and declined to provide further details on the contract values or the amount of money exchanged.

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As the prosecution investigation is ongoing, it is difficult to disclose the contract amount or the scale of money received.