Gwangju Regional and Basic Council Members Resolve Not to Post Chuseok Greeting Banners
Illegal Banners of National Assembly Members Scattered Across the Region... Citizens Frown
On the day of the Chuseok holiday, the 10th, an illegal holiday greeting banner from Congressman Lee Yong-bin, who represents this area near Gwangju Airport, was hung.
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Although the metropolitan and basic councilors of Gwangju Metropolitan City agreed not to put up illegal banners with holiday greetings for this Chuseok, it was a different story for the members of the National Assembly.
Illegal political greeting banners that proliferate every holiday and year-end season damage the cityscape and threaten citizens' safety, causing headaches for local governments and discomfort for citizens.
While a social atmosphere to eradicate this has been formed, it is pointed out that the members of the National Assembly, who should take the lead, are not keeping up with the times.
On the afternoon of the Chuseok holiday, the 10th, in front of Gwangju Airport, the gateway to Gwangju, there was a banner of National Assembly member Lee Yong-bin, whose constituency is here, saying "We will take responsibility for people's livelihood."
At another gateway, the KTX Songjeong Station intersection, there was National Assembly member Min Hyung-bae; at the Buk-gu Sinyong-dong intersection, National Assembly member Lee Hyung-seok; at the Buk-gu Gakhwa-dong Munhwa intersection, National Assembly member Jo Oh-seop; at a four-way intersection in Nam-gu Wolsan-dong, National Assembly member Yoon Young-duk; at a four-way intersection in Seo-gu Ssangchon-dong, National Assembly member Song Gap-seok; at the Seo-gu Yeomju-dong intersection, National Assembly member Yang Hyang-ja; and in Buk-gu, National Assembly member Lee Byung-hoon’s holiday greeting banners were posted.
All eight National Assembly members from the Gwangju area put up banners.
They all displayed their faces and conveyed messages wishing a happy Chuseok, but these are clearly "illegal banners."
On the other hand, it was hard to find greeting banners from politicians other than National Assembly members throughout Gwangju.
Gwangju city councilors resolved not to post any illegal banners ahead of Chuseok, and district councilors also joined in.
However, the National Assembly members, who should lead by example more than anyone else, completely ignored this and put up illegal banners.
Of course, the political situations differ. Heads of organizations and metropolitan and basic councilors were elected in the local elections on June 1 this year, with the next election four years away, but National Assembly members have less than two years until the next general election.
From a political perspective, National Assembly members are in a position to prepare for the next general election and need to make their names known at least once more, so it appears they put up illegal banners this Chuseok as well.
Citizen Jeong Mo said, "It's ridiculous that National Assembly members are leading in putting up illegal banners that are not even legal," and pointed out, "It's time for National Assembly members who truly think about society and care for citizens, not just their own positions."
An official from the local political circle said, "Although a mood was formed not to post illegal holiday greeting banners ahead of this Chuseok, National Assembly members probably found it difficult to participate due to the upcoming general election," and added, "There was likely also a judgment within the Democratic Party that it might be difficult to maintain their positions."
He continued, "National Assembly members from Gwangju who put up illegal banners against the social atmosphere like this, having not received good evaluations from citizens in the past, should reflect on themselves," and added, "Members who lack ability and competence will face strict judgment from citizens in the next general election."
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