Gaseyeon Files Injunction to Ban Seoul Metropolitan City Funeral... "Waste of Taxpayer Money"

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dong-hyun] The YouTube channel 'Garosero Research Institute (Gaseyeon)' has filed an injunction with the court requesting that the funeral of Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon not be conducted in the form of a Seoul Special Mayor funeral. Gaseyeon is a YouTube channel operated by lawyer Kang Yong-seok (Nextero Law Firm) and former MBC reporter Kim Se-ui.

On the 11th, lawyer Kang announced that he filed a 'Seoul Special Mayor Execution Prohibition Injunction' at the Seoul Administrative Court against Seo Jeong-hyeop, the Acting Mayor of Seoul and the Administrative Deputy Mayor of Seoul, representing Gaseyeon and 500 citizens.

Lawyer Kang explained, "According to the government's protocol manual prepared by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (formerly the Ministry of Public Administration and Security) in 2014, the Mayor of Seoul holds a ministerial-level position and, if he dies while in office, may be eligible for a government funeral." He added, "To proceed with a government funeral, it is necessary to consult with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Blue House Secretariat, then the head of the affiliated agency must recommend it, and the President must approve it."

Gaseyeon claims that although there are no legal provisions regarding funerals due to the death of a sitting Seoul mayor, the Seoul city government is conducting the funeral as a Seoul Special Mayor funeral without legal grounds, which not only causes procedural problems but also wastes budget.

Lawyer Kang emphasized, "It is estimated that more than 1 billion KRW will be spent on this funeral," and added, "Since the Seoul Special Mayor, whose expenses are paid with public funds, is subject to resident audits and resident lawsuits, the injunction to prohibit execution can also be recognized." He further stated, "Mayor Park did not die in the line of duty," and "Deputy Mayor Seo is wasting taxpayers' money without following procedures, so we plan to file a complaint for embezzlement of public funds under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes."

In response to Gaseyeon's claims, a representative of the funeral committee in charge of the Seoul Special Mayor funeral said, "This is a malicious attempt to tarnish the funeral and create news," and added, "The decision to hold the funeral as a Seoul Special Mayor funeral was made lawfully after reviewing relevant regulations, so there is no room for controversy."