"462 Rooms and Facilities Reserved Without Deposit or Contract"
"Eight Korean Weddings and 112 Room Reservations Canceled"
"Anyway, since money circulated, does this count as economic revitalization?"
When The Shilla Seoul, which had previously canceled wedding reservations scheduled for November due to a national event, announced that weddings could proceed as originally planned, opposition lawmakers expressed outrage, calling it a "no-show" for South Korea. The Shilla Seoul had been widely expected to host Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province next month.
President Lee Jae-myung is talking with Jeong Cheong-rae, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, while moving by Air Force One at Seoul Airport on the 22nd to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Photo by Yoon Dongju
On the 29th, The Shilla Seoul informed customers whose weddings had been canceled that their ceremonies could now proceed as scheduled. The hotel reportedly explained, "Depending on the wishes of the reservation holder, they may choose to proceed on the original date or on a rescheduled date."
It is known that the Chinese side had been coordinating schedules with The Shilla Seoul, considering the possibility that President Xi Jinping might hold a Korea-China summit and other events in Seoul after attending the APEC Summit. However, after the Chinese side recently notified the hotel of their decision to cancel the reservation, it became possible for the weddings to proceed again.
"Is this the result of saying 'xiexie' to China?"
In response, opposition lawmakers raised their voices, questioning whether this was the "hotel economics" President Lee Jaemyung had spoken of. Assemblyman Sung Iljong stated on his Facebook page on the 30th, "Customers who had weddings scheduled at The Shilla Seoul during APEC had to suddenly cancel due to a reservation by the Chinese government," adding, "Our young people had their once-in-a-lifetime weddings ruined."
Explanation of hotel economics shared by President Lee Jae-myung, which was created and sent by one of his supporters. President Lee Jae-myung's Facebook
He continued, "Is this all we get for President Lee Jaemyung’s constant 'xiexie' to China while expressing a negative view of the South Korea-U.S. alliance? Is this the 'hotel economics' he talked about? Even if hotel reservations were canceled, does the mere circulation of money mean the economy has been revitalized?"
"The Shilla Seoul comes alive because Xi Jinping cancels? Lee's 'hotel economics' in reality"
Assemblyman Park Sooyoung, the opposition secretary of the National Assembly’s Planning and Finance Committee, also criticized the government.
Park stated on Facebook the same day, "The Chinese Embassy verbally reserved all 462 rooms and facilities at The Shilla Seoul without a deposit or contract, and the hotel canceled eight weddings and 112 room reservations for Korean citizens," adding, "Now that Xi Jinping has canceled, The Shilla Seoul is bustling? Lee Jaemyung's hotel economics has become reality."
He went on to say, "The Chinese Embassy canceled the reservation without a penalty, causing inconvenience and anger among Korean citizens. Yet Lee Jaemyung would probably say this is a good thing. According to Lee's hotel economics, even if weddings and room reservations were canceled due to China’s cancellation, there was still 'vitality' in the economy."
He concluded, "In reality, there is nothing but frustration and anger for the Korean people-this is communist dictatorship hotel economics. This is the true face of the Lee Jaemyung administration."
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