Kim Jintae: "If You Visit, You'll See How Wonderful It Is"
Yangyang County Regrets "Comments Clearly Contrary to the Facts"
Kim Seongsu, head of the Haeundae District Office in Busan, recently made a disparaging remark about Yangyang, saying, "Yangyang is not a place for surfing, but a place to play with fire." In response, Kim Jintae, Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, expressed "serious concern" over the comment.
On July 28, during a policy briefing at the Gangwon Provincial Government, Governor Kim stated, "Both Haeundae and Yangyang are valuable tourism resources in our country. I do not understand the point of making such negative comments about either place."
Governor Kim further pointed out, "Mayor Park Hyungjun of Busan welcomed us from Gangwon when we arrived in Busan on the Donghae Line train between Gangneung and Busan, but the head of Haeundae District made an incomprehensible remark." He added, "If you actually visit Yangyang, you will see how wonderful it is and how well it is managed. The truth always comes out in the end." He urged more vacationers to visit the beaches on the East Coast.
Yangyang County also issued an official statement in the afternoon, strongly objecting to the remarks by stating, "These comments are clearly untrue." The county expressed regret that such inappropriate remarks were made by the district head while they were actively working to restore the region's reputation and counter malicious rumors about Yangyang.
In recent years, Yangyang County has suffered from false information and malicious rumors online related to nightlife, drugs, and crime. Local merchants have complained that these rumors have damaged the region's image and led to a real decline in visitors, even hanging banners to appeal for help. In response, on July 17, Yangyang County filed a police complaint against those spreading false information, taking strong action.
A county official emphasized, "Yangyang is a city visited by countless tourists, a place people want to return to, and is known as Korea's representative clean city and a future-oriented tourist destination."
The Gangwon-do City and County Prosperity Association also issued a statement, expressing regret and demanding, "The head of Haeundae District must personally apologize to the people of Gangwon-do, the residents of Yangyang, and the women of Korea." The association further stated, "Haeundae District must issue an official statement on this matter and immediately take measures that are consistent with the dignity and ethics required of public officials. Relevant authorities must also establish measures to prevent the recurrence of such regional discrimination and misogynistic remarks in the public sector."
Previously, on July 25, the Yangyang County Public Officials Union, the Yangyang County Council, and Choi Jae-min, a Gangwon Provincial Assembly member from the People Power Party, also criticized the remarks by the head of Haeundae District.
As the controversy grew, the head of Haeundae District issued a statement on the same day, apologizing by saying, "I sincerely apologize to everyone who was troubled by my remarks." He emphasized, "I had absolutely no intention of disparaging or belittling any region or women," and added, "Because only part of my comments was reported without sufficient context or the atmosphere of the conversation, my remarks were conveyed differently from my intention, causing distress to many. I once again sincerely apologize." He also stated, "As a public official, I will be even more cautious with my words and actions from now on and will take special care to avoid any misunderstandings."
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