Aftermath Continues in South Chungcheong Province Following the Collapse of Naepo New Town Hospital Site Acquisition Plan

Governor Kim Tae-heum Takes Disciplinary Action Against Director
Civil Servants' Union Protests: "Stop Arbitrary Personnel Measures"

Chungnam Provincial Government Building.

The aftermath within the Chungnam provincial government continues after the plan to establish a general hospital in Naepo New Town, Hongseong, Chungnam, fell through.

After Governor Kim Tae-heum took personnel action against the director in charge following the failure to purchase the hospital site, the civil servants' union protested, causing unrest among the provincial government staff.

On the 16th, the Chungnam Civil Servants' Union issued a statement urging the immediate withdrawal of the personnel standby order recently imposed on Director A of the department responsible for the Naepo General Hospital project.

The union stated, "Shifting responsibility onto an individual may lead to organizational contraction and passive administration among civil servants in the future," and added, "Stop the logic of organizational defense that is based on individual sacrifice immediately."

Previously, the Administrative and Cultural Committee of the Chungnam Provincial Council decided at the first meeting of the temporary session held on the 14th not to submit the '2025 First Occasional Shared Property Management Plan' to the plenary session.

The management plan included the province's intention to purchase a 34,214-square-meter site within the new town for the establishment of the hospital.

However, the provincial council rejected the plan, citing inadequacies in the agreement signed by the province during the hospital establishment preparation process.

Subsequently, Governor Kim held Director A responsible for the rejection of the plan and issued a personnel standby order.

The union said, "Responding to the council is not a matter that can be handled solely by an individual's ability or judgment," and expressed deep concern over the personnel action taken due to the alleged poor response to the council.

They further urged, "Stop arbitrary personnel actions and establish personnel principles that can guarantee the morale of civil servants."

On the other hand, the provincial government explained that the personnel action was inevitable due to the seriousness of the matter.

A provincial official stated, "The seriousness is great as the hospital establishment has been delayed for several months, and there were many regrets regarding communication with the council," adding, "Through this measure, the intention was to raise awareness not only among the director in charge but also among all bureau and division directors."