Paju Citizens Criticize "Ignoring Gangneung Wildfire Damage"
Controversies Over Extravagant European Study Tour and 'Emperor Swimming Lessons'
Kim Kyung-il, mayor of Paju City, is facing controversy for ignoring the sister city Gangneung, which recently suffered from wildfires, and instead traveling abroad to attend a festival in the Japanese sister city.
According to a Yonhap News report on the 15th, Mayor Kim Kyung-il departed on the 14th for a 2-night, 3-day visit to Hadano City, Japan. A Paju City official stated, "We received an official invitation to the opening ceremony of the Danjawa Mountain Climbing Festival, a spring festival representing Hadano City," adding, "This visit is expected to promote friendship and activate civilian exchanges."
However, Paju citizens are viewing Mayor Kim’s actions unfavorably.
Lee, a resident of Unjeong 1-dong, told Yonhap News, "I don’t understand why the mayor is visiting the Japanese sister city instead of consoling Gangneung, our sister city, which has many disaster victims due to the wildfire." Kim, a resident of Munsan-eup, also said, "I heard many people canceled trips to Gangneung, which is worrying for the local economy," and criticized, "Considering the citizens of our sister city who are in despair, sending the vice mayor to Japan would have been sufficient."
When Gangneung City suffered damage from the East Coast wildfires in March last year, Paju City voluntarily collected and donated 7.4 million KRW from all employees, and in April 2019, they also supported with 11.92 million KRW, daily necessities, and clothing during wildfires. However, no support plans have been made yet regarding the recent wildfire, and there are no plans for the mayor to visit Gangneung.
Kim Kyung-il (right), the mayor, and Mok Jin-hyuk (center), a Paju city council member, taking swimming lessons during the pool inspection time [Image source=Yonhap News]
Moreover, Mayor Kim caused controversy last month after returning from a European sightseeing trip, and recently drew criticism for receiving 'emperor-level' swimming lessons.
From the 22nd to the 30th of last month, Mayor Kim, along with Paju City council members Mok Jin-hyeok and Oh Chang-sik, four public officials, and six citizen participants?a total of 13 people?visited resource circulation facilities in France, Denmark, and Austria. However, while there were four visits to environmental facilities during the schedule, visits to famous tourist sites in each country were not omitted. In France alone, they reportedly toured the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-?lys?es, Palace of Versailles, Sacr?-Cœur Basilica, and the Eiffel Tower.
Additionally, Mayor Kim received swimming lessons during pool inspection hours at a swimming pool operated by a private company commissioned by Paju City, along with city council members. It is reported that he stopped the lessons once media coverage began.
Meanwhile, Ko Jun-ho, a member of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly from the People Power Party representing Paju City’s 1st electoral district, raised suspicions that Mayor Kim ignored regulations and replaced the official vehicle.
Assemblyman Ko stated, "Official vehicles can only be replaced after 8 years of purchase or exceeding 120,000 km mileage, but Mayor Kim replaced an official vehicle that was less than 4 years old," and claimed, "He specially ordered a top-grade vehicle worth about 100 million KRW."
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