Sang-hwi Lee, Elected Member of Parliament for Pohang Nam and Ulleung
"Apologize for Staff's Mistaken Misdelivery"
Controversy Over Power Abuse After Reprimanding Official for Protocol Issue
Controversy has arisen after a newly elected member of the National Assembly sent mass text messages to residents announcing their child's wedding even before taking office. The elected official in question had previously sparked criticism by reprimanding public officials over protocol issues, claiming that their congratulatory speech was omitted at a recent event in Pohang.
On the 24th, Yonhap News reported that Lee Sang-hwi, the People Power Party winner of the Pohang Nam-Ulleung constituency in North Gyeongsang Province, recently sent text messages to a significant number of Pohang citizens informing them of his daughter's wedding time and venue.
The message stated, "In accordance with my daughter's wish to hold the ceremony quietly, this is a simple notice. We would appreciate your warm congratulations," and added, "We politely decline congratulatory money and flower wreaths." Although the message did not include the account number of the host, which is commonly seen in recent wedding invitations, it did contain the wedding time and location.
Among the citizens who received the message, many expressed negative reactions, feeling burdened. Some found it bitter that someone they barely knew sent a message announcing their child's wedding immediately after being elected as a member of the National Assembly.
A representative of a civic group in the Pohang area posted a captured image of the message on their social media, criticizing it as "a message that imposes the burden of figuring out how to congratulate a newly elected official wearing the gold badge."
In response, Lee Sang-hwi told Yonhap News, "The wedding date was set a year ago," and explained, "It was supposed to be sent only to close acquaintances, but an office staff member mistakenly sent it to everyone registered in the phone directory." He also expressed regret, saying, "I sincerely apologize for sending the message to so many people."
Earlier, on the 19th, Lee Sang-hwi attended the Disability Day ceremony held in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, and later called in the event organizers, including Pohang city directors and managers, to raise complaints about protocol issues, causing controversy. It was reported that Lee took issue with the fact that, unlike the mayor and city council chairman who gave separate congratulatory speeches on stage, he only stood alongside local city and provincial council members and greeted attendees.
Following this, the Pohang city public officials' union bulletin board was flooded with voices condemning Lee, saying, "Abuse of power immediately after being elected, the abuse started as soon as the armband was given."
Lee's side claimed, "It was a meeting to hear explanations about the situation, not an abuse of power."
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