Assembly member cites local elections timing, calls for full audit of subsidy use; Kim Byung-ji told to answer public funds allegations
Amid growing anger among Chuncheon residents over Gangwon FC's decision not to hold home matches in the provincial capital, a provincial council member has raised fresh questions about a fan trip to Hiroshima organized under former Governor Kim Jin-tae of the People Power Party, alleging it may have served political ends.
Current Governor Woo Sang-ho addressed Gangwon FC's decision to stop hosting home games in Chuncheon — the seat of the provincial government — at a regular press briefing, saying the club's move to block Chuncheon's mayor, a Democratic Party member, from entering the stadium last year had been a political matter. He added that he had issued an emergency directive and was working to resolve tensions between Chuncheon and the club.
The issue raised at the provincial council, however, is a separate one. Yoon Ji-young, a Democratic Party of Korea member of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Provincial Council's Administrative and Culture Committee representing Chuncheon District 1, used a five-minute open-floor speech at the council's 348th regular session Thursday to call for a thorough investigation into whether political motives were behind the Hiroshima away-match fan trip organized under a special directive from former Governor Kim.
The away match in Hiroshima took place Nov. 4, 2025, with about 200 people — including fans, ordinary residents and provincial officials — joining the supporters' group.
The event was proposed by former Governor Kim himself and was widely promoted through official provincial press releases. Because it was organized just seven months before local elections, it drew allegations of vote-buying and possible legal violations.
Yoon noted that a civic group filed a complaint against former Governor Kim on Sept. 1 on charges including violations of the Public Official Election Act, and said, "Whether the travel expenses provided to residents for the away trip constitute an act of contribution under the Public Official Election Act, and whether any actual legal violation occurred, will be determined through investigation and judicial judgment."
She went on to say, "The core of the issue is whether taxpayers' money and Gangwon FC were used as a political promotional tool by the former governor," adding, "Gangwon FC is a precious asset belonging to the people of this province, and the fans' support comes from pure passion — we must determine whether political intent was involved and how."
Yoon also raised questions about the provincial administration's handling of the matter after the trip.
According to Yoon, Gangwon FC applied on Dec. 31, 2025 to revise its project plan to cover the away supporters' travel expenses, and the provincial sports division approved the application as submitted that same day. In April 2026 — two months before local elections — the division abruptly ruled the expenditure an unauthorized use of funds and notified the club it would not recognize the settlement and would seek to recover the money.
Yoon said the project revision application submitted by Gangwon FC and the provincial sports division's own review report both explicitly listed 114.13 million won ($83,400) for "away match support," and that former Governor Kim as well as the responsible director, division chief and team leader had all accompanied the trip. "It is hard to accept the explanation that they did not know where the funds came from," she said.
She went on to say, "I question whether the province pushed ahead with the event at the former governor's proposal, approved the project plan revision, and then belatedly sought to recover the funds only after the political situation changed," adding, "We must thoroughly examine whether political judgment played a role in the entire process — from organizing the away trip and disbursing the subsidy to approving the revision and initiating the recovery."
Yoon called on Gangwon Province and Gangwon FC to conduct a full audit covering the entire process from the initial proposal for the away trip through subsidy disbursement, project plan revision approval, settlement and recovery; to disclose all reports and consultations between the two bodies; and to review whether to cancel the grant decision and apply penalty surcharges, and report the findings to the council.
Yoon also addressed Gangwon FC chief Kim Byung-ji directly, saying he must "respond to the allegations surrounding public funds and subsidies with accurate facts, and if wrongdoing is confirmed, accept the corresponding responsibility."
"I hope Gangwon FC will no longer be embroiled in political controversy," Yoon said. "The club must reinvent itself as a team for all provincial residents — one where players can focus on the game and fans can cheer freely."
abc@heraldcorp.com
