Yeosu Mayor Kwon Oh-bong and Yeosu City Council 'Clash Again'

Mayor Kwon "Went Beyond the Scope of Supplementary Questions" Leaves the Answer Seat

Chairman Jeon Chang-gon "Clearly Showed an Attitude Disregarding Local Councils"

[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Sim Kyung-taek] Kwon Oh-bong, mayor of Yeosu City, Jeollanam-do, is deepening the conflict between the city executive branch and the city council, clashing once again with the Yeosu City Council.

During the Q&A session of the 213th Yeosu City Council extraordinary meeting, Mayor Kwon left the answering seat after raising objections during the city administration questions regarding the Gyeongdo Bridge and the residence development on Gyeongdo.

The clash occurred when Mayor Kwon strongly protested and left the answering seat over the scope of questions during supplementary questions by Councilors Lee Sang-woo and Seo Wan-seok, following Councilor Joo Jong-seop’s city administration question about the Gyeongdo Bridge.

Mayor Kwon argued that the main question topic, ‘Gyeongdo Bridge,’ and the supplementary question mentioning ‘Gyeongdo lifestyle accommodation facilities’ are separate issues, objecting by saying, “This is the first time supplementary questions unrelated to the main question have been raised,” and “How can you ask irrelevant questions by putting people up?”

Councilors Seo Wan-seok and Lee Sang-woo, who raised the supplementary questions, argued that both the Gyeongdo Bridge and lifestyle accommodation facilities are projects related to Gyeongdo development and are therefore related to the main question mentioning ‘citizens’ concerns about Gyeongdo development.’

After about ten minutes of loud exchanges, the city council declared a recess and held an emergency meeting, deciding to adjourn as they judged normal council proceedings were difficult.

On the 14th, at the 2nd plenary session of the 213th extraordinary meeting, the Yeosu City Council strongly criticized Mayor Kwon for leaving the answering seat during the city administration questions, calling it an ‘act of obstructing council proceedings.’

Regarding the disruption that day, Chairman Jeon Chang-gon said, “Gyeongdo development is currently the biggest local issue, and many citizens are interested, so I understand that the councilors intended to explain the overall situation before continuing with questions,” and added, “It is clearly wrong for the mayor to leave the answering seat without permission and protest the meeting’s progress just because he judged the two topics unrelated.”

He also criticized, “The mayor’s behavior clearly shows his long-standing attitude of disregarding the local council.”

Furthermore, he emphasized, “Any claims, explanations, or protests regarding any matter must be made after obtaining the right to speak and from the designated seat within the plenary hall, as that is the principle of democracy,” and “The responsibility for adjourning the plenary session lies with the mayor who obstructed legitimate council proceedings.”

Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Sim Kyung-taek simkt7@asiae.co.kr

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