Seocheon County Council Halts Review of Next Year's Budget... "Director Accuses Council of Insult Over Festival Budget Cut"

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Controversy has arisen as a department head in Seocheon County, Chungnam, made remarks disregarding the county council and its members during a budget review, and then left the meeting room. In response, the county council immediately halted the budget deliberations, demanding a sincere apology from the county governor and the department head.

According to Asia Economy's coverage on the 13th, the county council has been holding a regular session from the 2nd to the 20th to review next year's budget proposal and ordinances submitted by the county.

However, on the 11th, during the budget review for the Tourism Promotion Division, Director A protested against a council member who called for a reduction in the budget for the Maekmundong Festival, and left the meeting room.

In relation to this, council member Lee Kangsun (Democratic Party) reportedly suggested a 30% cut in the festival budget, stating to Director A, "We are issuing local bonds worth 20 billion won next year, but the stage installation and celebrity invitation expenses for the Maekmundong Festival have been excessively allocated."

Director A responded by protesting, "If you cut the budget by 30%, are you telling us to hold the festival or not? Just cut the entire budget and abolish the division," and is said to have left the meeting room with the division team leaders.

The county allocated 887.5 million won for the Maekmundong Festival.

The county council strongly objected to Director A's remarks and actions, suspended next year's budget review, and demanded a sincere apology and personnel action from County Governor Kim Kiwoong and the deputy governor.

In a phone interview with Asia Economy, Councilor Lee said, "It is true that this incident occurred," and pointed out, "The attitude of County Governor Kim Kiwoong and Director A towards the council is, in a word, contempt for the council."

Director A stated, "Councilor Lee made remarks during the budget review that hurt my pride. I should have respected the council member and been patient, but I failed to do so," adding, "I can understand a 10% cut, but 30% seemed like a demand to cancel the festival, so I told them to cut the entire budget." He further said, "While my words and actions may have been rash, mutual respect is necessary."

Han Kyungseok, chairman of the Seocheon County Council's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, declared, "If there is no sincere apology from the county governor, deputy governor, and the department head, and no disciplinary action against Director A in next year's regular personnel appointments, we will indefinitely suspend the budget review."

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