Lee Jong-seok, the People Power Party floor leader at the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Provincial Assembly, called for restraint Thursday after the Democratic Party raised political allegations over a trip in which 200 Gangwon FC supporters traveled to Japan roughly seven months before local elections during former Governor Kim Jin-tae's tenure. Lee said the assembly should be careful not to turn a matter already under investigation into a political dispute.
In a statement released that day, Lee said it is the assembly's natural duty to examine whether public funds were spent properly and whether administrative procedures were followed. "If there were administrative errors, they must be corrected, and those responsible must be held accountable," he said. "However, this matter is currently under investigation following a complaint filed by a civic group. The enforcement decree of the Local Autonomy Act makes clear that administrative audits or investigations must not be conducted with the aim of interfering in an ongoing trial or criminal investigation. Our assembly must also be careful not to prejudge the facts and legal responsibilities that investigators must determine, or to escalate the matter into a political dispute that could influence the direction of the investigation."
Lee also noted that Gangwon Governor Woo Sang-ho has been reported to prosecutors by civic groups on charges of publishing false information under the Public Official Election Act, in connection with announcements he made during the last local elections regarding the recruitment of a Gangneung AI data center. "The assembly must not prejudge whether the governor's remarks constitute the publication of false information, nor reach a conclusion based on political convenience," he said. "Whether it is the Gangwon FC case or the Gangneung AI data center case, the same principles and the same standards must apply to all matters currently under investigation."
Lee added that Gangwon FC belongs to no party and no politician. "It is a club that has grown through the taxes and support of all Gangwon residents," he said. "If there were administrative wrongdoing, the assembly must of course correct it. But we must not drag the sweat the players shed on the field, or the pure passion of the fans, into political controversy."
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