Sancheong County Council and People Power Party Gyeongnam Provincial Party Hold Solo Protest
As one-person relay protests demanding the resignation of An Cheon-won, a Sancheong County council member (People Power Party) who recently caused controversy due to abusive language, verbal abuse, and gambling activities, continue, the scandal is spreading. The fact that the protesters are reporters covering Sancheong County has drawn particular attention.
Reporters affiliated with the Western Gyeongnam Press Solidarity have been taking turns holding one-person protests for ten consecutive days since the morning of the 16th, alternating between the Sancheong County Council and the venue of the Sancheong World Traditional Medicine and Aging Expo.
A reporter belonging to the Seobu Gyeongnam Media Alliance is holding a solo protest in front of the Sancheong County Council. [Image provided by Seobu Gyeongnam Media Alliance]
Eventually, on the 24th, they held a one-person protest in front of the People Power Party’s Gyeongnam Provincial Office, An’s party affiliation, demanding his expulsion.
The incident began around August when a reporter from the Solidarity asked for a rebuttal regarding An’s abusive language and verbal abuse during a report.
At that time, An sent messages via KakaoTalk, a social networking service (SNS), to the reporter, saying, “Thanks for being so cool,” and “I don’t need a rebuttal, please publish it as a series, thank you, bow.”
At the end of July, An caused controversy by attending a meeting held at a local agricultural cooperative and verbally abusing a female director, saying things like, “You crossed me wrong, I can take down someone like you.”
Reporter A explained the background of the one-person protest, saying, “During the process of covering and reporting An’s inappropriate behavior, I could not overlook his actions that damaged his honor, such as sending mocking messages toward the media instead of showing remorse.”
He added, “Not only does he spew abusive language and verbal abuse at the residents as a county council member, but he also mocks and belittles the media investigating his misconduct. This is an abuse of power by the Sancheong County Council that must be corrected through this opportunity.”
A reporter affiliated with the Seobu Gyeongnam Press Solidarity is holding a solo protest in front of the People Power Party Gyeongnam Provincial Office. [Image provided by Seobu Gyeongnam Press Solidarity]
The Western Gyeongnam Press Solidarity held banners and placards with phrases such as “An Cheon-won, Sancheong County council member who committed abuse of power, abusive language, verbal abuse, habitual gambling, and media retaliation attempts, resign immediately,” and “Kim Tae-ho, member of the National Assembly, are you not afraid of public opinion? Expel An Cheon-won immediately,” urging An’s resignation.
They also raised their voices through portable loudspeakers, saying, “The county council, which started with the slogan ‘Sancheong County Council with the residents,’ has only ruled over the residents so far,” and “Who gave you such power? From whom did you receive the delegated authority?”
There were also claims that An mocked Reporter A, who was holding the one-person protest.
Reporter A claimed, “On the first day of the protest, An came to the site, took pictures, and sarcastically asked, ‘How long will you continue?’ and ‘Thank you for raising me.’”
In response, An Cheon-won admitted visiting the protest site but denied any mocking or sarcasm.
Some fellow council members have voiced criticism of An’s inappropriate behavior, suggesting that he overreacted to the media’s role in checking and monitoring for the public good.
Council member B of Sancheong County said, “An’s inappropriate behavior is inexcusable,” and urged, “He should quickly resolve the situation with a sincere apology.”
Jung Myung-soon, chairperson of the Sancheong County Council, also expressed willingness to urge An to apologize to resolve the situation.
Meanwhile, the Western Gyeongnam Press Solidarity plans to continue the one-person protests until a sincere apology from An is made.
Hwang In-tae, head of the Press Solidarity, stated, “If An does not take responsible action and apologize, we will escalate our struggle using all means, including the one-person relay protests,” and added, “We will take this opportunity to judge the abuse of power, abusive language, and arrogance that belittles the residents by the Sancheong County Council.”
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