Stabilizing Municipal Administration Takes Priority Over Former Changwon Mayor's Appointed Position Resignation

Pros and Cons Divided Among Ruling and Opposition Parties and Local Community

There is ongoing debate among both the ruling and opposition parties, as well as within the local political community, regarding the timing of the resignation of appointed term-based officials by former Changwon Special City Mayor Hong Nam-pyo, whose election was annulled due to a confirmed violation of the Public Official Election Act.

In particular, some citizens are voicing that, rather than demanding unconditional resignations in the current crisis, the top priority should be stabilizing Changwon's municipal administration and focusing on the economy.

On the morning of the 7th, the Changwon City Council members of the Democratic Party of Korea held a press conference at the city hall press center, stating, "Cho Myeong-rae, the Second Vice Mayor appointed by former Mayor Hong, along with special advisors and the inspector?who are all term-based officials?should resign immediately."

The Democratic Party of Korea's Changwon Special City Council members in Gyeongnam are demanding the immediate resignation of appointed officials, including Jo Myungrae, the 2nd Deputy Mayor appointed by former Changwon Mayor Hong Nampyo. Photo by Lee Seryung

The Democratic Party city council members argued, "Throughout his term, Mayor Hong blamed his predecessor's administration and excessively conducted political audits," adding, "As a result, major projects such as the disqualification of the Ungdong 1 District developer, the loss of the Masan Marine New Town lawsuit, the liquefied hydrogen plant dispute, the drifting of the Second National Industrial Complex, and the suspension of the Gusan Marine Tourism Complex have all collapsed one after another."

They continued, "The Second Vice Mayor was a key figure in Hong's election camp during the local elections and shares joint responsibility for the failure of municipal administration," and added, "The special advisors and inspector are also heavily responsible for destabilizing city governance and paralyzing administration through political audits."

The council members stated, "As long as these individuals remain in their positions, it is impossible to restore trust in Changwon's municipal administration," and further insisted, "The police should indict the Second Vice Mayor and other related officials, who are currently under investigation for alleged violations of the Illegal Political Funds Act."

Members Mina Kim and Seungyeop Park (left) of the Changwon City Council's Special Committee on Administrative Investigation of the Liquefied Hydrogen Plant Project are urging the Democratic Party to stop undermining the auditor and calling for the auditor to complete duties within the term. Photo by Se Ryeong Lee

In the afternoon, Changwon city council members from the People Power Party held a press conference urging, "Some Democratic Party council members should stop undermining the inspector, who is managing Changwon's crisis."

Kim Mina and Park Seungyeop, members of the City Council's Special Administrative Investigation Committee on the Liquefied Hydrogen Plant Project, emphasized, "The inspector is an open-position official with a guaranteed term," and added, "The inspector must clarify and resolve the truth about the project until the end of their term."

They continued, "Some Democratic Party council members did not even participate in the special committee and are claiming that all matters are fabricated with a self-serving interpretation," and said, "We suspect that their intention is not to avoid audits, but to obstruct them."

They explained, "During the process of pushing forward this project, which involved a massive budget of 105 billion KRW, violations of the law and abuse of power were discovered," and added, "This issue is not simply a matter of political factions or an attempt to tarnish the former mayor, but a serious matter that requires clear accountability to prevent the waste of Changwon citizens' tax money."

Regarding this, some in the local political community express concerns that if political appointees, who are perceived as sharing a political fate or community with the mayor, remain in office despite the mayor's absence, it could burden the administrative activities of the Acting Mayor, the First Vice Mayor.

It is also pointed out that it is customary for political appointees designated by the mayor or organization head to step down when the appointing official's term ends.

Conversely, there are also voices saying that if all political appointees supporting the administration resign amid instability caused by the mayor's absence, it could increase the Acting Mayor's workload and create administrative gaps.

Concerns have been raised over the uncertainty of how long it would take to fill the vacancies if these officials resign before the aftermath of the mayor's absence is resolved, and the fact that even if the Acting Mayor has the authority to appoint replacements, it would take at least 40 to 50 days to complete the necessary procedures.

With the terms of the Second Vice Mayor and the inspector, both term-based officials, ending this July, and the term of the special political advisor ending in January next year, attention is focused on when they will decide to step down.