Hwang Hee Takes Sick Leave from Plenary Session for Family Trip to Spain... Citizens Outraged, Saying "Not a Responsible Public Official Attitude"

Hwang Hee Takes Sick Leave During Plenary Session for Family Trip to Spain
"Mistake by Inexperienced Secretarial Staff"
Netizens: "Not Proper Conduct for a Public Official"

Hwang Hee, nominee for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Hwang Hee (54), the nominee for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, has been revealed to have traveled abroad annually with his family to the United States and other countries from 2017 to 2019 after being elected as a member of the National Assembly in 2016. In particular, it was found that he took sick leave and went on a family trip to Spain even while the plenary session of the National Assembly was in progress, sparking public criticism.

Hwang's camp acknowledged the family trips but explained that the sick leave submissions were due to "a mistake made by the secretarial staff with short work experience when writing the reasons," they clarified.

According to data on absences from plenary sessions and standing committees of the 20th National Assembly obtained by Rep. Choi Hyungdoo of the People Power Party from the National Assembly Secretariat on the 7th, Hwang was absent from a total of 17 plenary sessions between 2016 and 2021. Reasons were provided 12 times, of which 8 were "personal reasons (sick leave)."

It was revealed that on July 20, 2017, when Hwang submitted sick leave and was absent from the plenary session, his family simultaneously departed for Spain.

At that time, a plenary session was held to process the first supplementary budget bill (추경안) after the inauguration of the Moon Jae-in administration, but 26 members of the Democratic Party of Korea did not attend, causing a "lack of quorum" situation. The Liberty Korea Party (now People Power Party), which had collectively left before the vote, returned to the chamber, fulfilling the quorum, and the supplementary budget bill narrowly passed.

Additionally, Hwang reportedly did not attend the plenary session in March 2017 and went on a business trip to the United States. He submitted sick leave for both plenary sessions held during the business trip period.

Hwang's camp explained that the reason for submitting sick leave during vacations and business trips was "a mistake made by the secretarial staff with short work experience when writing the reasons."

Hwang Hee, nominee for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. [Photo by Yonhap News]

Despite Hwang's explanation, criticism has not subsided. He is being pointed out for not behaving appropriately as a public official representing the people.

One netizen commented, "It's really disappointing. We elected him because he said he would work hard, but he just went on trips," adding, "From his explanation, it's always someone else's fault. Hwang says this happened due to a mistake by his secretarial staff, but it would be better if he just admitted his fault clearly and reflected on it."

Some have raised issues regarding Hwang's income reporting. According to the wage income withholding receipt submitted by Hwang to the National Assembly, his after-tax income in 2019 was 138 million KRW. After deducting apartment rent, debt repayments, insurance premiums, and donations, the annual expenditure for Hwang, his spouse, and children was 7.2 million KRW, averaging about 600,000 KRW per month.

Regarding this, another netizen pointed out, "600,000 KRW a month is barely enough to live on. Then how can they travel abroad so frequently as a family, not even just domestically?"

Park Ki-nyung, deputy spokesperson of the People Power Party, also released a statement that day, sarcastically saying, "There is a line of citizens wanting to learn in detail 'how a family of three lives on 600,000 KRW' from Hwang."

Park added, "Hwang's spouse reportedly doesn't even go to hair salons and cuts her own hair. There are overflowing questions asking if she knits her own clothes and makes her own shoes," emphasizing, "Hwang should reflect on whether he has neglected his fundamental duties as a member of the National Assembly and lived like a nobleman on taxpayers' money, and whether he is qualified to be a minister."

Meanwhile, Hwang's camp responded to the criticism about the unrealistic expenditure by saying, "There was income such as from book publication events that did not have to be reported mandatorily," and "It is also true that we actually saved on living expenses."

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