Breaking News Suwon City Council Chairman Faces Backlash Over Illegal Banners Posted Using Taxpayer Funds

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] As holiday-season promotional banners proliferate and draw frowns from Suwon citizens (reported in Suwon Ilbo on the 5th), it has come to light that the Suwon City Council Chairman's banners were installed illegally, causing controversy.

In particular, contrary to initial reports that the chairman's banners were installed by individuals, they have been revealed to have been produced and posted using taxpayer funds from Suwon, intensifying public criticism.

According to the Suwon City Council's Legislative Affairs Team, the banners under the name of 'Suwon Special Metropolitan City Council Chairman Kim Ki-jung' were installed at 7 locations including overpasses throughout Suwon, unlike 44 'Lunar New Year greetings' banners under the name of 'Suwon Special Metropolitan City Council Members Collectively,' which were installed on designated bulletin boards.

However, to install banners on overpasses in Suwon, prior cooperation and permission from Suwon City's Urban Design Team must be obtained. It has been revealed that the chairman's banners were installed recklessly without following these procedures.

According to confirmed information, the chairman's banner production request and posting were led by the Legislative Affairs Team of the council after prior internal consultation among the chairman, administrative officials, and relevant staff. Given these circumstances, it appears that those involved were aware in advance that the banner posting was illegal.

Regarding this, an official from Suwon City's Urban Design Team, which has authority over outdoor advertising permits on overpasses, stated: "We have not received any prior consultation request regarding the chairman's posted banners," and added, "Based on the current situation, these appear to be illegal banners, but a thorough investigation will be needed to be certain."

Under current Suwon City outdoor advertising regulations, approximately 20 overpasses located within Suwon have very strict standards for posting promotional materials set by law. Only promotional content for public-purpose city administration publicity and official events related to culture and sports can be posted in the form of fixed signboards. Therefore, permanent 'banners' are prohibited from being posted.

Nevertheless, the Suwon City Council Chairman's banners are being openly displayed in banner form, and their content is in the form of private, personal 'Lunar New Year greetings.'

As this fact became known, citizens are criticizing it as "illegal use of privilege." Additionally, they are demanding removal, saying "civil servants who demonstrated loyalty are not exempt from responsibility for wasteful use of citizen taxes."

Choi Mo, a resident of Yeongdeungpo-gu, Suwon, said: "It is shocking that the head of the city council, which even struggles to enforce regulations to prevent the proliferation of illegal banners, has committed an illegal act, and considering that city council members are elected public officials, this is treating the citizens who elected them with contempt." He further stated: "If they were unaware that permission was required, it is dereliction of duty; if they posted it while knowing, it is abuse of authority, so illegal matters must be thoroughly examined."

Meanwhile, attempts to contact the head of Suwon City Council's Administrative Office, who led the illegal banner posting, to verify the facts were unsuccessful. Additionally, the Legislative Affairs Team official said they would "examine whether there were legal violations in the posting procedures and provide a statement," but has remained silent so far.