After Training Trip to Jeju, Village and Neighborhood Leaders Test Positive for COVID-19 in Large Numbers
Jinju Citizens Express Frustration on National Petition: "Efforts of Jinju Citizens Made Futile"
Jinju Mayor Jo Gyu-il Apologizes, "I Bow My Head in Sorry"
A petition posted on the Blue House National Petition Board on the 25th. The petitioner demanded strict disciplinary action against local government officials related to the Jinju City Village Chiefs and Community Leaders Association who went on training to Jeju./Photo by Blue House National Petition Board
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seul-gi] Amid controversy over a sharp increase in community transmission after village chiefs and neighborhood leaders from Jinju, Gyeongnam, tested positive for COVID-19 following a training trip to Jeju, a Blue House petition demanding strict disciplinary action against those who went on the trip and the local government has been posted.
According to the Blue House petition board on the 25th, a petition titled "Please strictly discipline the local government that approved the Jinju village chiefs and neighborhood leaders' association to go on a training trip to Jeju" was posted. As of 6 p.m. on the 26th, the petition had received about 5,000 signatures.
The petitioner began by saying, "These days, we are receiving disaster text messages daily asking to refrain from traveling to other regions and external activities, especially for the sake of high school seniors who have worked hard over the past year, as we face the 'third wave' of COVID-19."
They continued, "At this time, members of the village chiefs and neighborhood leaders association in Jinju went on a training trip to Jeju under the guidance of public officials," and raised their voice, saying, "As a citizen of Jinju, I cannot help but question under what circumstances the public officials, who should be leading efforts to ensure citizens' safety and prevent COVID-19, approved this official training."
They added, "I am curious about the purpose of this training trip and whether it was absolutely necessary to travel all the way to Jeju, and whether the content could not have been conducted in writing or remotely," and "I earnestly request a thorough audit of the local government officials who planned this training and the approving authorities, to uncover any misconduct and dismiss those who acted inappropriately."
The petitioner appealed again, saying, "Every citizen is suffering from COVID-19. Because of this training trip, the efforts of all Jinju citizens have been wasted in an instant. The safety and livelihoods of all citizens, children and parents, workers and self-employed people in Jinju are under threat," and "I ask the government to properly investigate this incident for the sake of the suffering citizens of Jinju."
In response to the controversy, Jinju Mayor Cho Gyu-il apologized at a press conference that morning, saying, "I bow my head and apologize as public officials and village chiefs who should have set an example were infected with COVID-19."
Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo also emphasized that strict responsibility will be held for this cluster infection incident. On the same day, Governor Kim said, "It is unacceptable that an administrative agency, which should set an example in quarantine, led a group training trip," and warned, "All administrative resources will focus on early blocking of infection spread, and after investigating the circumstances of this matter, those responsible will be strictly dealt with."
Earlier, Gyeongnam Province announced at a COVID-19 response briefing on the 26th that a total of 19 additional confirmed cases were related to the Jinju village chiefs and neighborhood leaders who went on the Jeju training trip. Among the 19, it was reported that two public officials and two contract public officials were included.
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