Seoul Metropolitan Council Democratic Party criticizes "Kim Do-sik, Seoul Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs, 'reckless behavior'" ? Will it backfire on Oh Se-hoon?

Seoul City Council Democratic Party's Kim Do-sik expresses strong regret over Deputy Mayor's absurd political acts and reckless behavior... Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, responsible for COVID-19 quarantine, criticized for attending only twice the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meetings chaired by the Prime Minister amid record-high daily COVID-19 cases in Seoul.

Kim Do-sik, Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] "It seems that whenever Kim Do-sik, the Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs, opens his mouth, he pours out harsh criticism as if to prove he is not a former chief of staff to Ahn Cheol-soo."

This was said by Councilor A of the Seoul Metropolitan Council to a reporter. He criticized, "The Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs is supposed to maintain smooth relations with the Seoul Metropolitan Council and support Mayor Oh Se-hoon's administration, but it is hard to understand whether it is appropriate to unilaterally criticize the current government's quarantine measures beyond his role."

He added, "When the council convenes, we will firmly question Deputy Mayor Kim."

Reflecting this sentiment, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) in the Seoul Metropolitan Council (101 out of 110 members) issued a statement on the 15th under the names of public relations co-representatives Moon Jang-gil and Song Myung-hwa, harshly criticizing Deputy Mayor Kim.

They cited a phrase from the Song Dynasty philosopher Zhu Xi's 'Records of Words and Deeds of Famous Ministers of Song' (宋名臣言行錄): 至(ireulji) 愚(eoriseok-eul u) 責(kkujijeul chaek) 人(saram in) 明(balg-eul myeong), meaning 'Even the most foolish person is clever at blaming others.' This classical idiom criticizes those who cover their own faults and only blame others, starting their reproach of Deputy Mayor Kim Do-sik.

Deputy Mayor Kim reportedly sent a media message titled "Stop Shifting Responsibility and Unite Efforts for Responsible Quarantine" to the press room the day before. However, contrary to the title, he made no mention of measures against the soaring COVID-19 cases in Seoul, which are breaking records daily, instead making baseless and harsh accusations that the responsibility for the ongoing pandemic and the fourth wave lies with the President.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council's Democratic Party expressed strong regret over Deputy Mayor Kim's absurd political behavior and reckless actions.

They sternly warned Deputy Mayor Kim Do-sik to immediately cease his outdated political rhetoric of reckless remarks, which forgets the Deputy Mayor's duty to coordinate communication, cooperation, dialogue, and compromise among the city's administrative actors to promote efficient governance, and instead stirs conflict and controversy with unfounded criticism and low-level factional logic.

As of July 14, South Korea reported 1,615 new COVID-19 cases. With daily cases exceeding 1,000 and the high temperatures not abating the spread, public anxiety and inconvenience are growing day by day. Criticism of quarantine authorities based on differing opinions on social distancing and concerns about vaccine supply is a burden that the Blue House and government must naturally bear. It is also the state's role to minimize public anxiety and inconvenience through a humble attitude toward criticism and proactive policies.

However, one cannot help but ask Deputy Mayor Kim Do-sik: What role should local governments play amid a global disaster? Mayor Oh Se-hoon, the head of Seoul's quarantine efforts, has attended only two meetings of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters chaired by the Prime Minister, even as Seoul's COVID-19 cases continue to break records daily.

What about the 'Seoul-type Coexistence Quarantine' that Mayor Oh has consistently advocated since taking office? In his media message, Deputy Mayor Kim asked, "Who proposed premature measures such as easing distancing and boosting consumption?" Then who criticized the government's 9 p.m. curfew as lacking sufficient basis and unfair across industries? Who arrogantly refused to follow government quarantine measures and only appealed for restraint in outings and gatherings in early July? How will Deputy Mayor Kim explain that the Seoul-type Coexistence Quarantine was in fact a much more relaxed and unilateral quarantine policy than the government's guidelines, and what responsibility will Seoul take?

What about another of Mayor Oh's quarantine policies, the introduction of self-diagnostic kits? Despite no companies or products having formally applied for approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Seoul purchased large quantities of self-diagnostic kits at prices higher than market rates, ignoring expert warnings. However, the self-diagnostic kit project ended as a pilot in call centers, logistics centers, and dormitory schools, with only four confirmed cases detected through this pilot costing approximately 1.34 billion KRW, raising suspicions of corruption.

Before magnifying the government's faults, shouldn't Deputy Mayor Kim Do-sik apologize for Seoul's unilateral administration, deeply reflect on the responsibility for the COVID-19 spread, and prioritize finding ways to overcome the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis together with Seoul citizens, the government, and the Seoul Metropolitan Council?

The spread of COVID-19 due to repeated variants is a global phenomenon. In the UK, where the vaccination rate reaches 75%, about 20,000 new cases are reported daily. The situation is similar in other nearby European countries, Israel, Australia, and Russia, all with high vaccination rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also warned of the possibility of a new COVID-19 wave.

Despite persistent criticism and disparagement from conservative media and opposition parties, K-quarantine remains a respected and recognized model worldwide. Thanks to the sacrifices and patience of the people who trusted and followed the quarantine authorities in times of crisis, South Korea has endured well so far. Ahead of a new wave, what Seoul must do is assist the government and pool all wisdom for Seoul's quarantine efforts, a point the Seoul Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs should be reminded of.

At the end of last year, the National Professors' Council reflected on 2020 with the phrase 'Asitabi (我是他非),' meaning 'I am right, others are wrong.' It was a sharp rebuke and criticism of the political circles that consistently acted with double standards, which did not help solve political and social problems amid the national crisis of COVID-19 spread.

With Mayor Oh Se-hoon's inauguration, the Seoul Metropolitan Council and Seoul City promised governance based on coexistence and cooperation prioritizing people's livelihoods over 'factional logic' and 'opposition for opposition's sake' in the face of the people's crisis. Despite this, the Democratic Party of Korea in the Seoul Metropolitan Council cannot help but lament the political recklessness and poor sense of responsibility of the Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs, who holds a responsible position.

Even now, the Seoul Metropolitan Council's Democratic Party hopes that Seoul City and the Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs will quickly abandon 'disembodied' and 'double standard' rhetoric and regain balance and responsibility as public officials leading the administration of 10 million Seoul citizens. The party also sternly warns once again against some Seoul city officials who, with biased messages during a critical time, incite public conflict and anxiety.

Finally, taking this opportunity, we express deep gratitude to all Seoul citizens who endure precarious daily lives, trust the quarantine authorities, and strictly follow quarantine guidelines, as well as to all medical staff and related public officials on the front lines of quarantine, who practice noble self-sacrifice.

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