Gijang County in Busan has launched a dedicated organization to prevent corruption and budget waste, and is conducting joint inspections of coastal blind spots with the county council to enhance transparent and accountable governance.
The initiative aims to ensure fairness in administrative procedures while increasing effectiveness through on-site communication.
On July 29, Gijang County officially launched the 'Task Force for Comprehensive Investigation of Corruption and Wasteful Projects' to enhance the fairness of various projects and build trust among residents.
Led by the deputy county mayor, with the head of the audit team as deputy, the task force is composed of professionals from the administration, civil engineering, and construction sectors. They will comprehensively review ongoing and completed county projects.
Key areas of inspection include: △ legality of project implementation △ appropriateness of budget execution △ potential favoritism and vested interests △ wasteful budget expenditures.
If any illegal or inappropriate matters are discovered, the county plans to take strict action in accordance with relevant laws and implement institutional improvements to prevent recurrence. Additionally, a new reporting channel for residents will be established on the county's website to significantly enhance external oversight.
Woo Seong-bin, the county mayor, emphasized at the task force launch ceremony, "The budget of Gijang County belongs to all 180,000 residents and should be used solely for their benefit. We will thoroughly investigate projects suspected of favoritism to ensure that taxpayer money is not wasted and is returned to the residents responsibly."
In addition to ensuring budget transparency, the county is also strengthening its on-site administrative capabilities.
Gijang County and the county council conducted a joint inspection of coastal areas to assess the current status and verify major development projects.
The inspection team traveled along a maritime route from Daebyeon Port to Gilcheon Port, directly observing unauthorized coastal occupation and illegal facilities that are difficult to identify from land.
Particularly, they closely examined the progress of the long-awaited 'Jukseong-Hakri Road Construction Project' from a maritime perspective.
The plan is to comprehensively review the topographical characteristics of the construction site, the impact on the marine environment, and the harmony with the landscape to proactively prevent potential issues during the project process.
The county council stated, "The safety and convenience of residents are our top priorities," adding, "We will continue to maximize the effectiveness of administration through legislative activities that seek answers on-site."
Woo Seong-bin also stated, "We will respond strictly to illegal activities along the coast to protect Gijang's waters and ensure that major issues such as road construction projects proceed without disruption."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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