Kangwon Land Chief Executive Kim Do-gyun said the state-run casino operator is conducting a company-wide review of employees' high-value and split payments and use of corporate cards at drinking establishments, pledging stern follow-up measures based on the findings.
Kim made the remarks on the 19th during a parliamentary audit by the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee, held at Korea Gas Corporation's headquarters in Daegu, in response to questions from Rep. Choi Soo-jin of the People Power Party about improper corporate card use by employees and the company's response.
Choi said Kangwon Land employees made 3,593 corporate card transactions totaling 933.86 million won ($650,000) on weekends and public holidays from 2022 through August this year. In December last year, employees spent 8.18 million won in a single day, including separate payments of 4.85 million won and 3.33 million won at a bakery. Between August last year and August this year, 195 transactions totaling 21.65 million won were recorded at wine bars, izakaya pubs and similar venues, according to the findings.
In other cases, 9.8 million won was charged at a butcher shop in December 2024, and 6 million won was spent at a fruit store in November of that year.
"When we asked why the corporate cards were used, the justification came back as a single line saying it was for meals," Choi said. "If you use a corporate card on a weekend and file one self-written justification, there is no clawback and no disciplinary action. Does that make any sense?"
At the audit, the People Power Party also took issue with Kangwon Land executives engaging in political activity over the Chuseok holiday while holding Democratic Party membership. Presenting photographs, Rep. Seo Ji-young said Kim attended a Chuseok event with the Democratic Party's Sokcho-Inje-Goseong-Yangyang district committee on Sept. 24, noting that the area has no coal mining communities.
Regarding Kangwon Land Vice President Yoo Jung-bae, Seo said he visited a traditional market with district committee members from the Democratic Party's Chuncheon-Cheorwon-Hwacheon-Yanggu district, his former constituency, on Sept. 23. "It looks like campaigning," she said. "Isn't that political activity?" Kim declined to answer, saying it was not a matter to address at the hearing.