"A heavy and desolate feeling": A club employee is suspected of embezzling over 5.8 billion won in public funds; Gimpo FC owner and Mayor Lee Ki-hyung apologizes, orders special audit

*This content was translated by AI.

It has been confirmed that a staff member of professional soccer K League 2 club Gimpo FC embezzled over 5.8 billion won in public funds, prompting police investigation and a special audit by Gimpo City. Gimpo FC is an institution funded and supported by Gimpo City.

According to reports from Gimpo City and NEWSIS on the 14th, Mayor Lee Ki-hyung, who also serves as the owner of Gimpo FC, held an emergency press conference at the Gimpo City Hall conference room that day, stating, "It has been confirmed that a case of embezzlement involving over 5.8 billion won in public funds occurred within Gimpo FC due to internal staff starting from January."

According to the city, the Gimpo FC club reported the matter to the police after confirming the facts the previous day and also notified the city. Gimpo City has decided to recover the embezzled public funds without fail, thoroughly pursue civil and criminal liability against those involved, and conduct a special audit on all funded and supported institutions, including Gimpo FC. This incident involves corruption that occurred during the eighth term of elected officials but was revealed shortly after the ninth term began.

During the press conference that day, Mayor Lee Ki-hyung said, "I feel a heavy and desolate heart." He added, "Our investigation has determined that the embezzlement took place over an extended period starting this January. As the mayor responsible for Gimpo City's administration, I deeply regret and bear heavy responsibility for the serious corruption that occurred in a funded and supported institution operated with citizens' tax money, and I sincerely apologize."

He further stated, "I have ordered an immediate comprehensive special audit of all local public enterprises and funded and supported institutions, including Gimpo FC. This will not be a superficial check. We will thoroughly re-examine every area where citizens' taxes are used, including accounting, fund execution, contract operations, subsidy management, corporate card usage records, and internal control systems. We will fully uncover the truth behind this incident and hold those responsible accountable."

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Korea Professional Football League is aware of this situation involving Gimpo FC and is closely monitoring developments.

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*This content was translated by AI.