Ulsan Nam-gu Cancels 'One-to-One Protocol' for Whale Festival
Sudden Reduction Raises Concerns of On-Site Confusion and Hasty Management
"So it's true that the smarter you are, the faster you leave the civil service," "This is the moment when the reality of 'public servants as slaves' is revealed"
Ulsan Nam-gu District, which had planned to mobilize one-third of its district office employees for "one-on-one protocol" duties, has decided to assign only about 40 essential personnel to the site after facing a flood of public criticism. Observers point out that the district administration's lack of experience was exposed, as the unnecessary plan only fueled backlash among public officials and criticism from citizens. Although the main events of the festival are expected to proceed without issue, concerns have been raised about on-site confusion and hasty management due to the late withdrawal of the mobilization plan.
Weekday evenings and weekends... Suddenly forced mobilization
Previously, ahead of the opening ceremony of the Ulsan Whale Festival, Nam-gu District notified about 300 of its civil servants that they would be assigned to protocol work. The official notice sent by the district office stated, "To ensure the successful hosting of the Whale Festival, it is unavoidable to designate specific personnel for protocol duties."
According to the notice, a total of 294 employees were to be mobilized, including 38 officials responsible for VIPs from domestic and international sister cities, 217 for one-on-one protocol, and 39 for guiding guests at the opening ceremony. As a result, one-third of the 900 Nam-gu District Office employees would have been required to work additional hours, guiding guests at both the opening ceremony held at 7 p.m. on a weekday and the weekend closing ceremony.
The "one-on-one protocol" plan became controversial because it included not only about 100 VIPs from overseas sister cities and other municipalities, but also over 200 representatives from various private and social organizations, as well as specific industry groups in the Nam-gu area. Criticism intensified when even government-affiliated organizations such as the Korea Freedom Federation, the Saemaeul Movement, and the "Living Right" Association were included in the one-on-one protocol list.
"This is why the smartest are the first to leave..." Strong backlash from civil servants
Employee A from the district office told KBS, "They say this is a festival for parents and children, but it seems like the parents and children of civil servants don't matter at all," expressing anger. Employee B added, "Among staff, there's a growing sense of resignation, with people saying, 'This is why the smartest are the first to leave the civil service.'"
Criticism also poured in online. Internet users commented, "Just how important are these guests that each one needs a personal civil servant? Let's see the list of these so-called VIPs," and "This country is obsessed with protocol," expressing their disapproval.
Amid growing criticism, 'one-on-one protocol' plan withdrawn
As public criticism intensified, the Nam-gu District Office ultimately withdrew the plan. At a festival preparation meeting on the morning of September 22, the district decided to cancel both protocol training and the one-on-one protocol assignments, leaving only about 40 essential staff from the General Affairs Division and those in charge of international relations to guide VIPs. The district announced that only domestic and international invitees would receive limited guidance, and that a security company would be brought in to maintain order instead.
As it was revealed that the event could be managed with 40 people instead of the originally planned 300, criticism mounted that the excessive mobilization was merely for show. While some are concerned that the reduction in personnel could cause confusion at the event, many citizens have responded cynically, saying, "The protocol assignments were never necessary in the first place."
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