Over the past four years, the Kyunghyang Shinmun has conducted a thorough investigation into private contracts entered into with local governments by companies directly or indirectly related to local council members. This is because it was viewed as problematic for companies related to local councilors, who are responsible for monitoring the budget execution of local governments, to enter into private contracts with local governments. As a result, 91 members of metropolitan and basic councils were found to be operating businesses operated by themselves, their family members, or acquaintances, or whose actual ownership was suspected of being owned by them.