"Asked to Wear Maid Costume During Community Support" Bizarre Request at Local Festival

Inje-gun Requests Event Support from County for 'Ma-ui Taeja Festival'
"Is This Public Support?... Complaints of Ignoring Portrait and Human Rights"

Controversy has arisen after it was revealed that at a local festival in Inje-gun, Gangwon Province, the military unit was asked to support the event by having soldiers dress up as a king, eunuch, maid, and Eoudong.

On the 29th, a report was posted on the Facebook page ‘Delivered on behalf of the Army Training Center’ by a person identified as A, who introduced himself as “an army officer serving in Inje-gun.”

Director Lee Jang-ho's 'Eoudong' (1985).

According to A, his unit received a cooperation request from Sangnam-myeon, Inje-gun, for 50 officers ahead of the 'Ma-ui Taeja Festival' scheduled for September 2. It is reported that the unit is currently organizing personnel to provide support based on this cooperation.

Ma-ui Taeja was the crown prince of Gyeongsunwang, the last king of Silla, and is said to have led a movement to revive Silla. Many place names related to Ma-ui Taeja remain in Sangnam-myeon. The Ma-ui Taeja Festival features various experiential events to introduce the unique culture of the Silla period.

According to an Excel image attached by A, soldiers will take on roles such as safety management, perimeter alignment, and a moving photo zone at the event. A raised concerns, saying, “While safety and traffic control are understandable, the role of a clown taking photos with tourists in costume at the moving photo zone is problematic.”

Work assignment table attached by Mr. A. [Image source=Facebook page 'Yukgunhunsongso Daesin Jeonhaedeurimnida' capture]

In fact, about 40 officers are assigned to the ‘moving photo zone,’ a kind of costume parade. They are required to wear costumes corresponding to roles such as king, general, queen, eunuch, Eoudong, and maid, and perform duties at the event site from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. in shifts.

A questioned, “Is this really civil support for the public?” and pointed out, “Shouldn’t this be a part where the local government hires part-time workers with its budget?” He also expressed dissatisfaction, saying, “It seems like a disregard for individual portrait rights and human rights.”

He further asked, “Is it necessary for soldiers protecting the country to take on roles such as eunuchs, maids, subjects, and Eoudong to protect the people’s lives and property?”

In response, netizens expressed agreement with A’s concerns, commenting, “Civil support has become free part-time work,” “I suspect it’s intended to lower military morale,” and “Support can be provided, but it should be limited to safety.”

Following the controversy, an Inje-gun official explained to Yonhap News, “The request was made with the intention of coexisting with the military unit,” and added, “We have heard that some people felt uncomfortable, and we are actively considering revising the program.”