South Chungcheong region school principals make 100 domestic business trips per year, 151 cases over 3 years... Most 172 times

It was found that there were 151 cases of school principals in the South Chungcheong region making business trips more than 100 times per year over the past three years.

According to the South Chungcheong Office of Education on the 13th, the number of cases of business trips exceeding 100 times per year was 57 in 2023, 44 in 2024, and 50 in 2025.

In 2025, a high school principal in Asan made 172 business trips, while a middle school principal in Seosan and a middle school principal in Nonsan also made 162 and 155 business trips, respectively.

Many cases were confirmed where the number of business trips exceeded 90 from March to September of this year.

These statistics were compiled for domestic business trips and do not include overseas business trips.

In some business trips, reasons such as 'purchase of goods', 'attendance of alumni meeting', and 'business discussions' without specific purpose were listed as reasons for the business trip.

In particular, suspicions have been raised that there are cases where the school principal receives payment for travel expenses by treating work for which the need for a trip is not clear, such as attending an alumni meeting at his or her home school or purchasing goods.

In relation to this, at the administrative audit of the Education Committee of the South Chungcheong Provincial Council held on this day, voices were raised that the management and supervision of school principals' business trips should be strengthened.

South Chungcheong Province lawmaker Hong Seong-hyeon (Cheonan 1, People Power Party) raised the same issue in the 2023 administrative audit, and some travel expenses were refunded, but he criticized that similar cases are being repeated.

Rep. Hong said, “The validity of the purpose of the business trip is more important than the number of business trips themselves,” and pointed out that we must thoroughly check whether some school principals are receiving payment for travel expenses by handling unnecessary business trips.

He continued, “The Office of Education Support should not stop at simple one-time inspections, but should completely eradicate wrong business travel practices through continuous and strict guidance and supervision.”