Song Byung-gi, Former Ulsan Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs, Appointed as Economic Special Advisor 'On and Off'

Ulsan City Immediately Withdraws Economic Special Advisor Appointment Plan
Seemingly Burdened by Prosecutor Investigation for Election Offenses

Song Byeong-gi, Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs of Ulsan City, who is suspected of Blue House-directed investigation and election interference, is returning after being investigated by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office earlier this year.
[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-min, Photo by Kim Hyun-min]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] A sudden incident occurred on the 26th where former Ulsan Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Song Byung-gi, who is under prosecution investigation for alleged election interference in the Blue House's involvement in the Ulsan mayoral election, was appointed as Ulsan City's Economic Special Advisor effective September 1, only for the appointment to be abruptly withdrawn.

Former Deputy Mayor Song left Ulsan City in January this year through a dismissal in the form of an official removal due to his involvement in the election interference case.

Ulsan City stated that around 11:30 a.m. that day, they internally reviewed appointing former Deputy Mayor Song as an Economic Special Advisor but ultimately decided not to proceed with the appointment considering the negative public opinion.

Initially, Ulsan City planned to appoint former Deputy Mayor Song, a first-grade special service official, as a fixed-term Policy Advisor effective September 1.

According to the Local Public Officials Act, which prohibits appointing public officials who have been indicted in criminal cases, Ulsan City intended to appoint former Deputy Mayor Song as a two-year fixed-term Policy Advisor.

The appointed position does not have a separate rank and is an unpaid honorary post, but it allows advising the Ulsan Mayor and suggesting directions for city administration policies.

That morning, the media reported that former Deputy Mayor Song had been nominated as an Economic Special Advisor effective September 1. Immediately after the report, criticism from opposition parties and concerns from the public service community arose.

Criticism quickly emerged that appointing a person currently on trial as an election offender as a special advisor would place a significant burden on Ulsan's city administration.

An Ulsan City official explained the background of appointing former Deputy Mayor Song as an Economic Special Advisor, saying, "It was pursued to receive advice for overcoming the COVID-19 crisis and promoting the Ulsan-type New Deal policy."

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