Suwon City Council Members and Officials Persist with Training Despite 'Wuhan Pneumonia' Controversy

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Members of the Suwon City Council in Gyeonggi Province have sparked criticism for going on a training trip to Jeju Island amid a nationwide emergency caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia) infection.

Out of 37 Suwon City Council members, 36 (one absent due to personal reasons) and 25 council officials, totaling 61 people, left on the 28th for a 3-day, 2-night training trip to Jeju Island for the first half of 2020 to strengthen council capabilities and communication. The training expenses were budgeted at about 37 million won.

Notably, on the 28th, the day the council members and officials departed for the training, the third and fourth confirmed cases in the province were reported, leading companies, schools, and local governments to cancel official events and kindergartens and daycare centers to be ordered to close.

Facing public criticism, the council leadership hastily returned to Suwon on the 29th, one day ahead of schedule.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party delegation and the Planning and Finance Committee of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council canceled their scheduled training session in Jeju on the 28th, showing a contrast.

A civic group official pointed out, "In a situation where everyone is striving to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the city council members, who are representatives of the citizens, going to Jeju for a training trip raises doubts about whether they truly represent the citizens. Regardless of how they explain it, it seems difficult to avoid criticism."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.