COVID-19 Cases Surge but Unity Rally Held... A Gwangju District's 'Pathetic' Move

Confirmed Case at Jeonnam National University Hospital on the 13th: Director, District Council Members Play Jokgu and Have Dinner

Speculation Arises Over Pre-Meeting Between Executive and Council Ahead of Early Next Month's 'Administrative Audit'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Amid the spread of COVID-19 centered around entertainment bars in the Sangmu district and Gwangju Correctional Institution in the Gwangju area, controversy has arisen as public officials of Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, and Seo-gu Council members held a unity event.

Moreover, it has become difficult to avoid sharp criticism questioning whether such a gathering, which was more like a social outing without any cancellation penalties, should have taken place on the very day when an unexpected cluster of confirmed cases emerged from Jeonnam National University Hospital.

According to Seo-gu and Seo-gu Council on the 16th, on the 13th, the Seo-gu executive branch and council members played a foot volleyball game after work and had dinner together.

About 20 people attended, including the executive branch, Seo-gu council members, and Seo-gu Council staff. It is known that the gathering was arranged solely for friendship-building without any special reason.

Notably, this was also the day when eight residents from Jeonnam National University Hospital tested positive for COVID-19.

Earlier in Gwangju, four employees of Gwangju Correctional Institution tested positive on the 9th, followed by four more cases on the 10th.

On the 11th, seven people including entertainment industry workers, and five more on the 12th, were confirmed positive, triggering an emergency due to regional spread.

Therefore, Mayor Lee Yong-seop of Gwangju issued an appeal around the same time, stating, “The weekend is a turning point for the spread and containment of COVID-19,” urging people to refrain from unnecessary gatherings and travel, emphasizing that the community must remain vigilant.

Furthermore, with the administrative audit scheduled for early next month, sarcastic voices have emerged suggesting that the executive branch arranged a favor-seeking event for district council members.

One public official pointed out, “While Gwangju is on high alert due to the resurgence of COVID-19, it is contradictory for executives and district council members to play sports and dine together in a district that is calling for cooperation with quarantine measures,” adding, “Some staff are sacrificing even their days off and working hard, so holding a unity event especially when many confirmed cases are emerging is unacceptable.”

In response, a Seo-gu official stated, “Since last summer, we have been preparing a unity event for friendship between the executive branch and the council, but it was repeatedly postponed due to COVID-19,” adding, “The date was set for the 13th and council members were notified when the local COVID-19 spread had calmed down and social distancing was adjusted to Level 1.”

He continued, “We considered postponing the event again until the day of the event, but since it had already been postponed several times, it was difficult to delay it further, so we proceeded as planned,” and explained, “We strictly followed quarantine rules during the foot volleyball game and the meal.”

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