Mayor Moon In Skips Council Questioning Again...Shin Junghoon Says It Is "Devastating"

Moon In, Mayor of Buk-gu, Gwangju. Provided by Buk-gu, Gwangju

원본보기 아이콘

Moon In, Mayor of Buk-gu, Gwangju, has twice in a row failed to attend an emergency interpellation at the district council regarding the reasons behind his reversal of his resignation, further intensifying conflict with the council.

According to the Buk-gu Council in Gwangju on the 4th, an emergency interpellation directed at Mayor Moon had been scheduled for the second plenary session of the 308th extraordinary meeting on the morning of the same day, but it was called off due to his absence. This is the second time, following January 15.

Shin Junghoon, a council member who was scheduled to pose the questions, strongly criticized Mayor Moon in a procedural speech.

Assemblyman Shin began by saying he felt "devastated and ashamed," and went on to say, "He is even avoiding the opportunity to explain to residents why he withdrew the resignation he had publicly declared," asking, "What is he afraid of, and what is he trying to hide by repeatedly refusing to attend this emergency interpellation, which is a democratic procedure?"

He continued, "Today is not only the day for the emergency interpellation, but also the closing day of this session, which concludes the New Year work report," stressing, "If he truly wishes to fully carry out his duties as district mayor, it is only right that he be present here."

Assemblyman Shin also questioned Mayor Moon's stated reason for non-attendance, namely his participation in the opening ceremony of a Quantum AI Data Center.

He said, "After confirming with the event’s organizing body, we learned that among those invited as heads of local governments to this gathering of quantum-technology experts, Mayor Moon is the only one attending," adding, "I wonder how he intends to restore the trust that has been shattered by the perception that he is a mayor who withdrew his resignation and is clinging to his position."

Previously, in the written statement of reasons for non-attendance that he submitted to the council, Mayor Moon said, "I have to handle a schedule at the National Assembly related to the special act on Jeonnam and Gwangju Metropolitan City, and attend the opening ceremony of the Quantum AI Data Center," adding, "I will work to ensure that local pending issues are reflected."

Meanwhile, Mayor Moon submitted his resignation late last year in order to run for Mayor of Gwangju, but withdrew it on January 7, just one day before it was to take effect. Since then, he has faced criticism from local political circles after recently applying for the Democratic Party’s preliminary screening for basic local government head candidates.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.