Flood Recovery in Hampyeong-gun Amid Heavy Rain During Business Trip
Three Meetings Held During 5-Day Cambodia Trip...Only Discussions on Seasonal Worker Agreement Due to Lack of Authority
It has been revealed that Lee Sang-ik, Hampyeong County Governor, Yoon Aeng-rang, Chairman of the Hampyeong County Council, and numerous other Hampyeong County officials went on an overseas business trip at a time when the Hampyeong area was hit by unprecedented heavy rain causing fatalities, drawing public criticism for neglecting flood recovery efforts.
Contrary to the stated purpose of the overseas trip, which was to establish exchanges and agreements, there are suspicions that it was a 'pleasure trip' focused solely on tourism activities such as a 'cruise dinner.'
According to the county on the 29th, Lee Sang-ik, Hampyeong County Governor, Yoon Aeng-rang, Chairman of the Hampyeong County Council, and eight other public officials spent a total of 16.07 million KRW (county funds) on a five-day overseas business trip from the 5th to the 9th of last month to Cambodia with the aim of building an international cooperation system through exchange agreements.
The problem is that the trip coincided with nationwide record-breaking heavy rainfall causing significant damage.
In particular, Hampyeong experienced a maximum hourly rainfall of 71.5 mm, and just one week after a floodgate manager was found dead after being swept away during an on-site inspection, a heavy rain advisory was issued at 9 a.m. on the 7th of last month, when the officials were absent on the overseas trip, affecting Hampyeong and the entire Jeonnam region, continuing the flood situation.
During the 3-night, 5-day overseas trip conducted by Hampyeong County, the original purpose of signing an MOU was not achieved, and only a few meetings were held, raising concerns about administrative incompetence.
According to the itinerary released by Hampyeong County, on the first day, the 5th of last month, the officials arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and concluded the day's schedule. On the 6th at around 10 a.m., they held a meeting with the Rich Sai Association of the economic delegation and wrapped up the schedule.
On the 7th, to fulfill the original purpose of the trip, which was to sign a work agreement (MOU) for foreign seasonal workers, they visited Sihanoukville, Cambodia, at around 10 a.m., meeting with the Deputy Governor of Kampong Island, but since the final authority for exchange agreements lies with the Cambodian Ministry of Labor rather than local governments, only discussions took place.
In Cambodia, the authority to review seasonal workers originally resides with the central government.
However, the Hampyeong County officials apparently did not verify basic authority for work agreements during pre-trip research and planned the schedule haphazardly before departure.
The subsequent schedule included a meeting with the Kampong Speu County Governor on the 8th and returning to Korea on the 9th, with only three meetings held during the 3-night, 5-day trip.
All other activities were limited to 'employee and market tours,' 'travel to Kampong Island,' 'travel to Phnom Penh,' and 'travel to Kampong Speu,' essentially just tours and transfers.
After completing the trip, Hampyeong County submitted an 8-page report listing four trip contents and achievements, but more than half of the report consisted of photos, and the main content was summarized in just two lines, making the report extremely inadequate.
Additionally, on the last day of the trip, it was revealed that the 10 officials enjoyed a 'cruise dinner.'
After finishing the meeting with the Kampong Speu Oral County Governor at 3 p.m. on the 8th, they moved to the Mekong River in Phnom Penh and enjoyed a dinner on a rented cruise for about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
The cruise rental cost was $100, and the meal cost $270, totaling $370, which amounted to about 500,000 KRW in Korean currency.
Considering that a meal in Cambodia typically costs 2,000 to 3,000 KRW, they are unlikely to escape criticism for indulging in a luxurious dinner.
Regarding this, a county official stated, "Upon arrival, we found that the final authority for the seasonal worker exchange agreement lies with the Cambodian Ministry of Labor, not the local government, so the agreement could not be concluded. During the meeting, it was agreed to sign the agreement later, and it is expected that an MOU will be signed with the Cambodian Ministry of Labor soon."
He added, "Because of the long distances between regions, a lot of time was spent traveling, so this was absolutely not a pleasure trip. The cruise was an old, small sightseeing boat, and it was shabby enough that it is hard to call it a dinner," he explained.
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