At his retirement ceremony held that morning in the Citizens' Hall at City Hall, Vice Mayor Cho said, "I am deeply grateful to all the citizens who have trusted and stood by me over the past three years. I also extend my respect and gratitude to all 5,300 public officials who have always remained steadfast and shared in contemplating Changwon's future."
Jomyeongrae, Deputy Mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam Province, is exchanging greetings with public officials after his retirement ceremony. Photo by Lee Seryung
He added, "Although I am leaving this position today, I will always carry with me the sense of responsibility and conviction of a public official. I support the next 100 years of Changwon, which we will all build together."
He continued, "Politics is always subject to various changes. Public officials must recognize these political changes, but they should not lose their focus as public servants. Regardless of any external changes, we must work together, deliberate together, and achieve results together for Changwon."
Jomyeongrae, the 2nd Deputy Mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, is facing the Democratic Party city council members protesting against the retirement ceremony in front of the retirement ceremony hall. Photo by Lee Seryeong
Earlier, in front of the retirement ceremony venue, Vice Mayor Cho raised his voice to the Democratic Party city council members who were holding protest signs condemning the holding of his retirement ceremony, saying, "Show some respect."
The city council members argued that it was inappropriate to hold a retirement ceremony for Vice Mayor Cho, who is under prosecution investigation for alleged violations of the Political Funds Act, and countered, "How can there be a retirement ceremony during an investigation? You should be ashamed."
The Democratic Party of Korea's Changwon Special City Council members in Gyeongnam are holding a protest with placards condemning the retirement ceremony of Jo Myungrae, the 2nd Deputy Mayor of Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam. Photo by Lee Seryung
Previously, the council members had continued to pressure Vice Mayor Cho to resign after former Mayor Hong Nampyo was removed from office when his conviction for violating the Public Official Election Act during the 2022 local elections became final. Vice Mayor Cho had been appointed by former Mayor Hong.
The day before the retirement ceremony, the council members held a press conference in front of City Hall, urging the cancellation of the ceremony, citing the ongoing prosecution investigation into allegations that Vice Mayor Cho received illegal political funds during the last local election.
On this day, Vice Mayor Cho said his farewell and retirement speeches, greeted the staff, and left the ceremony venue.
Regarding the city council members, he said, "Those are political actions, so they should be seen as politics. If public officials fulfill their roles as public servants, such matters can be understood politically."
Vice Mayor Cho holds a Ph.D. in Korean Medicine from Kyung Hee University and a Ph.D. in Law from Sungkyunkwan University. He previously served as director of Dongsin Korean Medicine Hospital and as a professor at the College of Korean Medicine at Dongsin University.
He also served as a policy advisory committee member at the National Assembly Research Service, an advisory member at the Board of Audit and Inspection, and a policy advisor to the Minister of Health and Welfare.
In 2022, he served as vice chair of the Changwon mayoral transition committee for the 8th popularly elected administration and was appointed as the Second Vice Mayor in August of that year as a political appointee.
With Vice Mayor Cho retiring at the end of July, the position of Second Vice Mayor will remain vacant until the local elections next year. In the meantime, the Director of Urban Policy will serve as acting vice mayor.
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