"Only Governors Command in Stage 3 Wildfires" Draws a Clear Line
Chungbuk Governor Kim Young-hwan has been accused of attending a drinking party despite a wildfire occurring in Jecheon.
At around 1:06 p.m. on the 30th of last month, a wildfire broke out on Bonghwangsan Mountain in Bongyang-eup, Jecheon, believed to have been caused by a cigarette butt on the roadside. Considering the wildfire's scale and wind speed, the forestry authorities estimated the damage to be between 10 hectares and less than 30 hectares, and issued a Level 1 wildfire response. As the fire spread, an evacuation order was issued for residents in the danger zone from 3 p.m. for about 3 hours and 20 minutes.
The flames seemed to be contained around 7 p.m. that day but reignited on the opposite mountain slope. Due to nighttime conditions, firefighting helicopters could not be deployed, so more than 200 firefighters and officials struggled on site. The fire burned 21 hectares and was completely extinguished at 9:30 a.m. the next day, the 31st.
Generally, for wildfires under 30 hectares at Levels 1 to 2, the commanding officer is the mayor or district head. For fires over 100 hectares, the governor or the head of the Korea Forest Service takes command. In this case, Deputy Mayor Park Ki-soon led the site on behalf of Jecheon Mayor Kim Chang-gyu, who was on a business trip abroad.
Governor Kim attended a provincial symphony orchestra concert held at the Chungju Cultural Center at 7:30 p.m. on the 30th, when the wildfire was still being fought, and two hours later attended a local youth gathering. Photos from the event captured bottles of soju, beer, side dishes on the table, and Governor Kim’s flushed face. These photos were posted on social media but were deleted after media coverage.
Governor Kim’s side explained that he did not drink alcohol and that his face appeared red due to recent outdoor events under the sun. On the afternoon of the 1st, the provincial government also released a press statement highlighting their swift response that prevented the wildfire from spreading further in Jecheon. Although the fire was effectively extinguished by 7 a.m. the previous day with a 96% containment rate, the statement was issued belatedly after the controversy over Governor Kim’s drinking party. The province clarified the chain of command for wildfire response levels 1 to 3, emphasizing that the governor only assumes command at Level 3.
Lee Kyung, the Democratic Party’s full-time deputy spokesperson, criticized on the 1st, saying, "The explanation from Governor Kim’s side that he only drank water and that his face was red from outdoor events is ridiculous," adding, "Even after a day, Governor Kim has not apologized once. His attitude is one of 'willingly becoming a bystander.'"
Governor Kim also sparked controversy last month by supporting the government’s method of compensating forced labor victims during the Japanese occupation, stating, “I am willing to become a pro-Japanese collaborator.”
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