Angry Citizens Continue to Press Conference and National Petition
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hong Jaehee] Criticism is growing as members of the Jeonbuk Gimje City Council, elected to represent the citizens, have been revealed to be involved in an affair and violations of the National Health Insurance Act.
As a result, the election of the second half chairman of the Gimje City Council has been delayed twice, causing setbacks, but citizens' appeals and petitions continue due to the council's passive response.
On the 15th, the Gimje City Government Employees' Labor Union and social organizations held a press conference in the city hall briefing room, stating, "The Gimje City Council is engaging in petty love affairs and power struggles," and urged, "They must apologize to the citizens and become a true council that works solely for the people."
On the Blue House National Petition Board, a petition titled "Please save the Gimje City Council, which has become a melodrama due to council members' affair" was posted the day before.
According to the petition, the male and female council members involved in the affair were rumored to have had an affair shortly after returning from an overseas training trip organized by the Gimje City Council in November last year.
The male council member, who is the subject of the affair rumor, held a press conference on the 12th of last month and admitted to it. He revealed that the husband of the female council member stabbed her thigh several times with a knife, causing her to undergo emergency surgery at a university hospital emergency room under his wife's name.
The petitioner who posted on the Blue House said, "They are the main characters of a melodrama who have abandoned their ethical responsibilities and duties as local council members, and it is shocking how shameless they can be."
He continued, "The council members, elected to monitor, went on an overseas training trip funded by taxpayers' money, engaged in inappropriate relationships, and caused the council to stop for three to four months," emphasizing, "The involved council member should be expelled so that they can no longer participate in council activities, and the Gimje City Council must also take responsibility for its delayed response."
A citizen observing the situation said, "They are violating the National Health Insurance Act as well as being involved in an affair," adding, "I cannot understand council members who commit legal violations on top of ethical irresponsibility."
The election of the second half chairman of the Jeonbuk Gimje City Council, delayed twice amid the affair controversy, is scheduled for the 17th.
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