‘New Coronavirus’ Takes a Backseat...Chungnam City and County Councils Face Backlash for Overseas Training Trips, Public Petition Also Raised

On the 30th, amid growing concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), the police carried out a demolition (immediate enforcement) of the blockade by residents in front of the Chungnam Asan Police Human Resources Development Institute, which was designated as the quarantine facility for Wuhan evacuees. A tent with the phrase "Administration that abandoned Asan citizens, the Republic of Korea government abandoned Asan" was set up on the sidewalk near the Police Human Resources Development Institute. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy (Naepo) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Despite signs of the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), the chairpersons of city and county councils in Chungnam who went on overseas training trips are facing public backlash. A petition urging the abolition of such leisure-style overseas training by councils has also been posted on the Blue House National Petition website.

According to the city and county councils in Chungnam Province on the 30th, the chairpersons of 13 councils, excluding Cheonan and Geumsan, left for a 'leadership capacity enhancement' overseas training trip to three Eastern European countries the day before. They are scheduled to visit Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary over a 7-night, 9-day itinerary.

The issue is that these chairpersons left for overseas training at a time when residents' anxiety was escalating due to the novel coronavirus, and most of the itinerary consists of cultural exploration, making it close to a leisure-style trip.

Local public opinion is cold on this matter. As the government designated Asan (initially Cheonan) as a temporary residence for Wuhan evacuees, causing strong resident anxiety and opposition, news that council chairpersons went on leisure-style overseas training trips has sparked criticism.

In particular, a Chungnam resident posted on the National Petition site to criticize the chairpersons of the 13 city and county councils who went on the overseas training trip.

The petitioner stated, "In this situation where the novel coronavirus is spreading worldwide, the attitude of the basic council chairpersons who went on a trip (overseas training) is outrageous, and I cannot help but petition," adding, "Most of their travel routes are typical cultural exploration courses, and the 100 million won budgeted for the trip all comes from taxpayers' pockets."

They especially pointed out, "The chairperson of Asan City, selected as the quarantine site for Chinese evacuees, not staying in place is an act that disregards all citizens," and "The Asan City Council already went on an official overseas training trip to Europe in October last year."

They then declared, "The basic council chairpersons who participated in the (Eastern Europe) training should reimburse all expenses and apologize to the public," and "Please abolish overseas training to prevent such incidents from happening again."

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