Officials Express Concern Over Pressure to Give Gifts... Call Action Inappropriate
Council Member Apologizes, Says Message Was Sent With Pure Intentions
An incumbent member of the Gwangju City Council has sparked controversy after sending a large number of text messages asking people to congratulate his daughter on her first birthday, just ahead of the administrative audit and next year's budget review.
According to Yonhap News on November 2, Council member A of the Gwangju City Council recently sent a message along with a photo of his daughter, saying, "Please bless her," and "My daughter has turned one. Although we did not hold a birthday party, I sincerely ask for your prayers and support so that this young life may grow up healthy and blossom in her own season." It was reported that this message was sent not only to acquaintances of Council member A, but also to people with whom he has no particular relationship, as well as to some public officials in Gwangju City.
Text message related to the first birthday of the daughter sent by Gwangju City Council member A. Yonhap News
One public official told Yonhap News, "I spent a long time wondering what it meant to ask for blessings while saying there would be no birthday party," and added, "I felt pressured, wondering if I should send a congratulatory gift." Another senior official also criticized, "It seems inappropriate for a city council member to publicly announce something that should be celebrated within the family," and continued, "Especially given the recent controversy in the National Assembly over the wedding of Choi Minhee's child from the Democratic Party of Korea, as a city council member from the same party, he should have been more cautious to avoid misunderstandings." Recently, it became controversial that Assemblywoman Choi held her child's wedding during the National Assembly audit period, and the audited institutions sent wreaths and congratulatory money.
However, Council member A explained, "I only sent the message because I genuinely wanted to receive congratulations, and there was no other intention." He added, "If I had wanted people to show their appreciation, I would have held a birthday party," and explained, "I just wanted to show off my beautiful daughter and receive congratulations." He also stated, "If there was any misunderstanding, I apologize to the public officials," and added, "I have not received any money from public officials as a congratulatory gift for my daughter's birthday, and even if someone had tried to give me something, I would have politely declined, saying that their good wishes were enough."
Meanwhile, it has been reported that local government officials in Gwangju have expressed dissatisfaction over the ongoing publication events held by incumbent council members ahead of next year's local elections. While it is common for incumbent politicians to hold publication events before elections, this year, not only those preparing to run for basic local government head positions but also incumbent council members seeking re-election are holding such events competitively, increasing the burden. One Gwangju City official confided, "There are many cases where publication events have effectively turned into fundraising events for election campaigns, so quite a few public officials feel pressured because of this."
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