Female Civil Servants Act as Backup Dancers for District Mayor on National Singing Contest Stage

Eight Female Senior Officials Act as Backup Dancers on Mayor's Stage
Business Trip Requests Filed for Event Participation, Raising Questions Over Use of Public Funds
All Backup Dancers Were Women, Sparking Gender Sensitivity Debate
Civil Servants' Union and KCTU Strongly Criticize "Use of Props"
Mayor Munin Issues Apology, Explains "Business Trip Applications Were Individual Decisions"

A district mayor in Gwangju Metropolitan City has come under fire after female senior civil servants acted as backup dancers during his performance on the National Singing Contest stage. These officials also submitted official business trip requests to participate in the event.

Munin, Mayor of Buk-gu, Gwangju, who appeared on the National Singing Contest stage. Photo by Yonhap News

According to Yonhap News on November 13, citing Buk-gu District of Gwangju, the recording of the KBS National Singing Contest "Buk-gu, Gwangju Edition" took place on November 6 at the sports field of Dongkang College in Gwangju. The recording, which lasted about two hours and thirty minutes, was attended by approximately 1,000 people, including Munin, Mayor of Buk-gu, Gwangju, members of the Buk-gu District Council, and local residents.

Mayor Munin took the stage himself that day and performed "Apartment," a song by singer Yoon Soo-il. While Mayor Munin was singing, eight female civil servants at the bureau and department head level from Buk-gu District Office joined him on stage. Wearing sunglasses and scarves, they waved cheering props and acted as backup dancers.

The controversy intensified when it was revealed that these officials had submitted official business trip requests in order to attend the event, which was held on a weekday. All eight who appeared on stage applied for business trips on the day of the recording, and the Director of the Autonomous Administration Bureau and the Head of the Resident Autonomy Division had also applied for business trips the previous day for prior discussions.

In addition to criticism that dancing behind the mayor on stage cannot be considered official work, there was further backlash over the lack of gender sensitivity, as all those who took the stage were women.

The Gwangju branch of the Public Officials Labor Union issued a statement on the same day, saying, "Using civil servants as mere props has undermined the self-esteem of other officials," and added, "Even if participation was voluntary, the mayor bears significant responsibility for allowing it."

The Gwangju branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions also stated in a press release, "Processing official business trips for the purpose of acting as backup dancers is a clear waste of taxpayer money," and pointed out, "Mobilizing female senior civil servants under the guise of voluntariness shows how lacking the administration is in gender sensitivity."

In response, Mayor Munin issued a statement saying, "I apologize for causing concern among residents and for placing a burden on members of the organization."

He added, "The business trip applications were made at the individual discretion of the staff," and clarified, "There were no prior rehearsals, nor were any business trip expenses paid." He also emphasized, "I will humbly accept the concerns raised about only female senior civil servants participating and will pay close attention going forward."

One of the senior civil servants who appeared on stage also commented, "The mayor never instructed us to act as props," and added, "I regret that we inadvertently caused trouble for other officials."

Typically, performances by local leaders during the National Singing Contest recordings are not broadcast in the main Sunday program. Previously, in 2022, Buk-gu District also faced criticism from the local community when female civil servants and female district council members acted as backup dancers for the mayor during the National Singing Contest recording.