[Comprehensive] "Try Having Your House Flooded" Hwang Unha's 'Bursting into Laughter' Controversy Amid Local Flood News

Hwang Unha "Crafting Facts Cunningly for Forced Controversy... Didn't Know It Would Be in the News"

Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, Hwang Un-ha, member of the Democratic Party of Korea, and members of the 'Cheoreomhoe' are gathered together on the 29th, smiling. On the TV located behind Leader Choi, a special news report on the Daejeon flood is being broadcast. [Photo by Facebook]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Controversy has arisen after a photo showing Hwang Un-ha, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, smiling against the backdrop of a news screen reporting flood damage in his constituency, Daejeon, was released. Hwang Un-ha refuted the criticism by saying it was a matter of "always being asked if he was crying" and that the controversy was "fabricated." The opposition party immediately issued a critical statement regarding Hwang Un-ha's smiling controversy.

According to a photo posted on Facebook by Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, on the 30th, Hwang was seen laughing heartily at a gathering with Democratic Party members Park Joo-min, Lee Jae-jung, Kim Nam-guk, Kim Seung-won, and Kim Yong-min.

However, behind many Democratic Party members, a news segment reporting the flood disaster in Daejeon was visible, leading to criticism that they were insensitive to the suffering of ordinary citizens. Critics questioned how they could be laughing while watching the news and needing to hold a meeting to discuss measures for the disaster victims.

On the previous day (the 30th), heavy rain poured over Daejeon and the Chungcheong region, flooding many areas and causing over 100 disaster victims. In particular, Daejeon, which suffered concentrated heavy rain exceeding 100mm per hour at one point, experienced severe damage including one death due to water flooding into low-lying apartments, and numerous homes and apartments were submerged.

In Munhwa-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, 102.5mm of rain fell in just one hour starting from 4:18 a.m. that day. At the representative official measurement point within the Daejeon Regional Meteorological Administration, 46.1mm of rain fell in one hour starting from 3:59 a.m.

On the morning of the 30th, a parking lot and part of a building in an apartment complex in Jeongnim-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, were flooded, and residents were evacuating the apartment with the help of firefighters.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Due to this record-breaking heavy rain, flood damage occurred in many places. Including one death, apartments in 28 households, 85 houses, and 55 vehicles were submerged.

The reason for the flood of criticism is that the photo shows Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, Hwang Un-ha, who represents Daejeon, and many Democratic Party members smiling with the news screen reporting the flood damage in the background.

Netizens criticized with comments such as "Try having your house flooded," "This is inappropriate behavior," and "It's surprising to see laughter when the constituency is in chaos."

A 40-year-old office worker, Mr. A, said, "People have died, yet they show laughter. It seems they do not understand the situation well," and added, "I hope they accept that there are high expectations for the Democratic Party as much as they are being criticized."

Another office worker in his 30s, Mr. B, said, "Daejeon is still flooded. It might be a brief mistake, but the conclusion is that it was an inappropriate display. I hope they come down to the constituency and respond swiftly."

Meanwhile, netizens mostly pointed out Hwang’s smile, as he represents Daejeon, in comments on related articles. One netizen raised their voice, saying, "This is truly an incomprehensible scene. How can they be laughing?" Other netizens also criticized, saying, "If the article hadn’t come out, would they have thought it was a problem?" and "Other members are the same; it’s an absurd sight."

The United Future Party criticized the photo, saying, "It seems they have no regard for the people shedding tears of blood."

Hwang Gyu-hwan, deputy spokesperson, said in a verbal statement, "Even though a news special about the flood disaster in Daejeon is being broadcast openly, Hwang and other Democratic Party members are laughing loudly," and added, "The Democratic Party only celebrates their own safety and achievement of goals."

However, Hwang dismissed the criticism in a post on his Facebook, saying, "The controversy was fabricated by cunningly forcing facts together," and "The quality of the article reporting the related content is low, so there is little to comment on."

He also said, "I went to a members’ meeting, not to watch TV news. I didn’t even know the flood news was on TV at the time," and questioned, "In a situation where there is a flood disaster in the constituency, should all meetings be suspended and should one always be crying?"

Meanwhile, he explained that right after finishing the plenary session that day, he moved to his constituency to check on the flood damage site.

On his Facebook, Hwang said, "As soon as the National Assembly plenary session schedule ended, I rushed to the flood damage site in Daejeon," and added, "I sincerely offer my condolences to the residents affected by the concentrated heavy rain and will do my best for prompt recovery and support."