In Response to Council Members' Questions During the Military Council Administrative Audit: "If Proven True, I Will Take Full Responsibility"
Regarding Criticism of the Log Cabin Promotional Video: "A Good Place for Conversation... I Don't Engage in Deception or Such Acts"
Photo by Lee Gang-seon, Seocheon County Council member (left), and Kim Ki-woong, Seocheon County Governor (right)
Kim Ki-woong, the governor of Seocheon County, Chungnam, stated on the 21st that the suspicion of his wife receiving a luxury bag was "an unbearable humiliation."
During the administrative audit of the Autonomous Administration Division at the Seocheon County Council on the same day, Assemblyman Lee Kang-sun (Democratic Party) questioned the issue of the governor's family being exposed and the stability of the public office organization that had been damaged. Kim said, "My wife and I have always helped those in need throughout our lives, but we have never lived like this. Once the audit results come out, I will inform the residents."
Earlier, an employee presumed to be a county office official claimed through the Chungnam Provincial Government's public interest reporting channel, "A team leader-level official allegedly gifted a luxury bag, believed to have been purchased at a duty-free shop during a trip to Osaka, Japan, last May, to Governor Kim's wife."
Governor Kim said, "I meet people because I like them. Although there may have been mistakes, this is based on media statements, and I apologize and regret this to the residents."
He especially emphasized, "I ask the assembly members to understand that my wife did not do such a thing," and added, "I am worried that my wife might be physically harmed. If it is proven true, I will take full responsibility."
Assemblyman Lee also questioned allegations that "county office officials were called to Governor Kim's log cabin, watched promotional videos of the governor, and were provided with wine, conspiring in donation acts and pre-election campaigning."
Lee pointed out, "Regardless of the legality of what public officials did at Governor Kim's log cabin, liking someone is not a justification for such actions, is it?"
In response, Governor Kim retorted, "That's not a crime, is it?"
Lee further pressed, "All responsibility for public officials lies with the governor. I am talking about responsibility for management, not the governor's personal faults."
Governor Kim countered, "I have been devoted to work and have not approached public office with trivial matters. Is the log cabin a bad place? It is a good place to talk with people. I do not engage in slander or such things."
He added, "I apologize for the public service discipline and will handle such matters administratively rather than personally if they occur in the future."
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