Internal COVID-19 and Incomplete Flood Recovery Raise Concerns Over High-Cost Training Programs
The Jeonnam City and County Council Chairpersons' Association meeting held in Yeosu last July. Photo by Yeosu City Council
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] While the entire nation and quarantine authorities are making painstaking efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, city and county local governments are appealing to refrain from the great national migration during this Chuseok holiday as much as possible. Jeju Governor Won Heeryong also personally expressed his stance asking people not to travel to Jeju if possible.
Amid this, the Jeonnam City and County Council Chairpersons' Association is pushing for a 2-night, 3-day training trip to Jeju Island, drawing criticism even within the chairpersons' group for being inappropriate.
With social distancing still in effect due to COVID-19 and flood recovery from the disaster in August still incomplete, the high-cost training trip is being pointed out as not matching the residents' expectations.
According to the Jeonnam City and County Council Chairpersons' Association on the 22nd, the association, composed of chairpersons from 22 city and county councils in the Jeonnam region, will conduct training in Jeju Island from the 5th to the 7th of next month, following the Chuseok holiday.
Among the 22 city and county councils in Jeonnam, 21 chairpersons are expected to attend, excluding the Chairperson of Gokseong County Council, and 31 public officials from each basic council will accompany the chairpersons.
The training expenses for the chairpersons will be covered by the chairpersons' association fees, which are paid annually at 7 million KRW from each basic council's budget, while the costs for accompanying public officials will be borne by each council's budget.
The training reportedly consists only of three external lectures and visits to gardens and botanical gardens. Although not included in the official schedule, there are suspicions that some attendees might play golf.
Regarding this training, concerns are being raised about chairpersons of each basic council, who should set an example, holding a 2-night, 3-day group meeting while flood recovery is still unfinished and COVID-19 has not subsided.
However, some chairpersons hesitate to refuse participation, fearing uncomfortable relations with fellow chairpersons, but they also point out that this training is inappropriate.
One chairperson, who requested anonymity, said, “In the COVID-19 situation, a 1-night, 2-day trip within Jeonnam might be understandable, but going to Jeju for 2 nights and 3 days for training seems unacceptable to residents' sentiments. However, since the airline tickets have already been booked, canceling the schedule is impossible,” expressing difficulty.
Another chairperson said, “I heard that the training schedule was forced because any remaining activity funds of the city and county chairpersons' association must be returned if unused. I wish they had used that money to buy masks and distribute them to each constituency,” criticizing the plan.
Meanwhile, two years ago, the association caused a commotion by attempting to produce golden keys costing over 1 million KRW each to avoid carrying over remaining activity funds to the next association before the end of their term, but the plan was canceled following media reports.
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