After Losing Ministry of Land Public Project
Taking Out Frustration on Local Member of Parliament
Lee Seunghwa, the governor of Sancheong County in Gyeongnam, is repeatedly brought up in public opinion for his rough manner of speaking.
Last year, near the end of the year, Governor Lee caused controversy with his harsh words during a meeting with Sancheong Expo officials. This time, he found himself in trouble again after it was revealed that he verbally abused a senior local member of the National Assembly during an internal county office meeting.
According to multiple officials at Sancheong County Office on the 15th, Governor Lee unleashed harsh language toward Assemblyman Kim Taeho during a meeting on the 6th attended by department heads. When Sancheong County lost in a competition against Geochang County for a regional vitality town development project, he reportedly vented his frustration at Assemblyman Kim.
Assemblyman Kim Taeho, whose constituency includes Sancheong and Geochang counties in the northwestern region of Gyeongnam, stated in a phone interview with a media outlet, “I was informed by Minister Won Heeryong of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport about the selection of municipalities for the project one day before the announcement. Out of concern, I requested that both locations be selected, but was told it was difficult,” emphasizing, “I was never involved in the selection process.”
He added, “While I understand the love for the region, if there were any grievances, they should have been expressed directly to me. It is inappropriate to openly express dissatisfaction in front of public officials.” He expressed his discomfort with the situation.
Later, in an interview with another media outlet on the 14th, Assemblyman Kim said, “Yesterday (the 13th), Governor Lee visited the National Assembly to discuss cooperation for attracting the Sancheong Expo and local issues. We had extensive talks, and there is no discomfort in our relationship due to this incident,” cautioning against further controversy.
Governor Lee’s rough speech also caused a major uproar at the end of last year. At that time, criticizing the work attitude of the Sancheong Expo organizing committee, he shouted harsh words such as “You all eat as much as you want among yourselves” in front of dozens of employees during a meal.
Governor Lee stated, “I never used harsh language; I only pointed out issues related to the staff’s work,” and added, “I have never interfered in project matters.”
He continued, “Personnel matters are discussed with employees and handled in a way that benefits the county.”
Meanwhile, Governor Lee, who graduated from high school and succeeded in becoming self-reliant after working in the construction industry for 10 years, entered local politics by winning a seat in the Gyeongnam Provincial Council as a member of the Grand National Party in the 3rd nationwide local elections in 2002.
He later ran for the county governor position as an independent in 2018 and, after going through the People Power Party primary in 2022, was elected governor after a second attempt, marking a remarkable political career.
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