Despite the COVID crisis... Seoul City senior officials' persistent 'hoesiksarang'

Since the government implemented COVID-19 crisis alert level 2 from the 24th, and Seoul City declared a "Ten Million Citizens Pause Period" until the end of the year, criticism arises over the complacent attitude of senior Seoul officials who have lunch with designated department staff and external restaurant reservations by day.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Amid a national crisis with over 500 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), there is criticism of a senior Seoul city official who still goes out to lunch accompanied by 4 to 5 subordinate public officials.

A top Seoul city official is reportedly designating department duty days by day of the week and having lunch with employees at external restaurants, prompting internal criticism that this may warrant disciplinary action.

Currently, Seoul city has designated the period until the end of the year as the "10 million citizens' pause period," requesting restraint on gatherings. In particular, Seoul's autonomous districts have ordered their subordinate staff to suspend even lunches with external personnel, and accordingly, office employees are said to be doing their best in quarantine by ordering lunch boxes to have their meals.

In this situation, employees participating in the lunch with the senior Seoul city official are reportedly very displeased. One employee criticized, "I reluctantly follow along, but this really isn't right."

As this news spreads, it is expected that this issue will be raised at the Seoul Metropolitan Council's Budget and Accounts Committee meeting scheduled for next week, drawing attention. Another Seoul city official said, "It is regrettable that senior officials, who should lead by example in quarantine efforts, are showing such behavior."