Allegations of Collusion and Manipulation in South Korea’s Largest Industrial Complex Development

The Jeonju City government in North Jeolla Province, South Korea, is facing allegations of collusion and manipulation in the appraisal process for the development of the Daehhanbangjik industrial complex. A local environmental group, the North Jeolla Environmental Movement Federation, has accused the city of allowing a conflict of interest by appointing a valuation firm linked to the development project to a key position in the project’s advisory board. This, they argue, could lead to a biased appraisal that favors the developer, (Ju) Jagwang, and could result in a significant loss of public funds. The environmental group alleges that the chosen appraisal firm may have deliberately inflated the pre-development land value and undervalued the post-development land value, potentially maximizing the developer’s profits. They also point to potential violations of pre-development consultation guidelines, highlighting the potential for unfair advantages for the developer. The environmental group is calling for a thorough review and re-appraisal of the development project, demanding that the city government take steps to ensure transparency and fairness in the process.