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Nowon-gu, Seoul, confirmed that it had bought a mask worth 200 million won from a watch company run by the husband of an incumbent council member.

He violated the prohibition of conflict of interest by giving him work through a voluntary contract rather than an open tender, but it is only saying that the lawmaker or Nowon-gu Office did not know.



Reporter Jeong Ban-seok covered it alone.



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Nowon-gu, Seoul, recently distributed five KF94 masks to residents.



A total of 2.7 million copies were supplied, of which the wholesale and retail companies that delivered 700,000 copies, worth 230 million won to the ward office, are, unsurprisingly, specialized watch makers.



As a result of the SBS interview, the company's representative is the husband of Rep. Yeon-sook Joo, the representative of the People's Power of Nowon-gu Council, and Congressman Jo is also a director.



It was a voluntary contract rather than a competitive bidding, but it is a violation of the provisions of the Local Contract Act that prevented spouses of local council members from entering into voluntary contracts with local governments.



State lawmakers claim they didn't know.




[Joo Yeon-suk/Nowon-gu Council People's Strength House Representative: It's been a long time since I quit my directorship, but I didn't care.

You shouldn't keep doing this, but companies are very difficult right now.] The



title of the director that was held until yesterday (17th) in the profile of the member of the council homepage and the state council who is not moving has disappeared today.



[Counselor Joo (company representative): I don't know why there is a conflict of interest.

Isn't it something that the company can do?] The



company delivered a mask that sold for around 250 won per sheet for about 340 won per sheet.



[Applicable mask manufacturer: If about 500,000 to 600,000 copies, I think we will not give you 250 won including VAT.]



[Other mask manufacturers: (How much is the unit price to purchase 500,000 copies?) Up to 210 won.]



Note The council's husband's company provided 20 million won worth of wristwatches for visits to the congress on a voluntary contract basis from three years ago to the office of the city council.



Ward officials say they didn't know it was a family member company.



[Guard Office Officer: It is not a specialized department that mainly deals with contracts, but now that we talked, I thought, but I will check it out and tell you.]



To prevent this from happening, the Civil Rights Commission has been examining the situation of conflicts of interest in local governments from this month,



[ Officials from the Civil Rights Commission: There seems to be no sanctions against lawmakers.

Companies should limit their eligibility to participate in bidding between 5 and 7 months due to unfair sanctions.]



It is unclear whether wrong practices can be eradicated due to weak penalties.



(Video coverage: Joo Yong-jin, video editing: Park Ji-in, CG: Park Dong-su)