Seoul Metropolitan Government: "Reappointment of Seongdong Cultural Center Director Accused of Sexual Assault Is Seongdong District's Responsibility"

Debate Over Responsibility for Cultural Center Director's Reappointment
Seoul Metropolitan Government: "District Office Holds Management Authority"

Jung Won-oh, the preliminary candidate for Seoul Mayor from the Democratic Party of Korea, commented on the controversy surrounding the reappointment of a sexual assault suspect as director of the Seongdong Cultural Center during his tenure as Seongdong District Mayor, stating, "The authority for the management and supervision of the cultural center lies with the Seoul Metropolitan Government." In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government refuted this claim, calling it an attempt to shift responsibility.

On March 30, Seoul Metropolitan Government spokesperson Lee Min-kyung released a statement saying, "The appointment process for cultural center directors has generally been conducted at the discretion and responsibility of local districts, taking into account regional characteristics and autonomy, which is the usual practice."

In particular, spokesperson Lee pointed out, "In the case of the Seongdong Cultural Center director at the center of this controversy, the same individual has been reappointed for a long period. It is reasonable to view that the relevant district office has exercised sufficient management and supervisory authority and responsibility throughout the process."

She continued, "Although the cultural center is legally an independent corporation, a large portion of its subsidies comes from the district government (54 million won from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, 155 million won from Seongdong District, amounting to roughly three times as much from the district as of 2026). The district government holds the authority to audit and provide administrative support, and senior officials from the district participate on the board of directors. Therefore, the district bears a substantial responsibility for management and supervision."

She added, "Nevertheless, it is regrettable that Jung Won-oh, who served three terms as Seongdong District Mayor and is now a preliminary candidate, is placing full responsibility for this matter on the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Such a claim ignores the institutional structure and the realities of actual operations, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government expresses deep regret regarding this."

The spokesperson further stated, "In relation to this matter, we urge all district offices to clearly recognize their own authority and responsibility and to operate stricter management and supervisory systems to prevent any recurrence of incidents that undermine public trust."

Meanwhile, Yoon Hee-sook, a preliminary candidate for Seoul Mayor from the People Power Party, criticized Jung Won-oh last year for the reappointment of a sexual assault suspect as director of the Seongdong Cultural Center. In response, Jung stated, "The authority for the management and supervision of the cultural center lies with the Seoul Metropolitan Government."

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