Dangjin-si "Violation of Prevention Rules, Undermining Public Service Discipline"... Ministry of the Interior and Safety Launches Inspection
On the 27th, two Dangjin City Hall officials were suspended from their positions after causing a disturbance when the owner of a coffee shop in Dangjin, Chungnam, recently requested them to wear masks properly. The photo shows Mayor Kim Hong-jang of Dangjin apologizing for the officials' misconduct during a press briefing on the 26th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Recently, two public officials from Dangjin City Hall were suspended from their positions after causing a disturbance when the owner of a coffee shop in Dangjin, Chungnam, requested them to wear masks properly.
Dangjin City announced on the 27th that this decision was made at an emergency personnel committee meeting held at City Hall.
A Dangjin City official explained the reason for the suspension, stating, "The actions of the two public officials were judged to have seriously violated the COVID-19 prevention guidelines as well as severely undermined public service discipline."
Mayor Kim Hong-jang bowed his head and said, "I sincerely apologize for the unpleasant behavior of public officials, who should set an example during the serious situation of COVID-19 spread, toward citizens requesting proper mask-wearing."
He added, "In relation to this incident, an internal investigation as well as an inspection by higher authorities are underway. If the investigation reveals any issues, the responsible parties will be held accountable."
The city plans to strengthen inspections on the implementation of duty measures for all employees to establish public service discipline and prevent recurrence.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has launched an inspection related to this incident, and will decide on disciplinary actions after reviewing the inspection details.
Three employees from the Ministry’s public service discipline department visited City Hall on the same day to meet with the involved party, Manager A (Grade 5), and investigate the circumstances of the incident.
Earlier, on the 20th at around 5:30 PM, Manager A, along with a fellow public official, visited a coffee shop in the city. When the coffee shop owner requested, "Please wear your mask properly," they responded with resistance, saying, "Why are you so unfriendly? Show me an official document that says masks must be worn properly."
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