I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
Sejong Center head under pressure to quit
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Park Won-soon, Seoul Mayor
Council members moving to submit dismissal motion
By Kang Hyun-kyung
A group of opposition members of Seoul Metropolitan Council are moving to submit a proposal to unseat the head of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts for what they call poor management.
Members of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee of the city council plan to submit the motion calling for the dismissal of Bagh In-bae this week. It is the first time that council members have attempted to kick out a CEO of the center in its 35 year history.
Bagh, one of the campaign strategists for Mayor Park Won-soon during the Seoul mayoral election, was appointed to the post by Park last year. Park won the mayoral election on the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) ticket.
On Wednesday, Sung Baek-jin, vice chairman of the 114-member council, said the atmosphere of the council is quite hostile to Bagh. Sung is also a DP member.
“He is not popular among council members. If the motion is put on the table, I believe it will be easily approved as not only DP members but also ruling Saenuri Party members are disappointed at his poor management performance and bad reputation as a leader of the center,” Sung said.
The vice chairman, however, noted that the negative view of city council members toward Bagh is one thing and chances of his dismissal plan getting the nod from council members is another.
“All 78 DP members are well aware that Mayor Park’s leadership will be put to the test if the motion is approved. They know that cornering the mayor who won the mayoral election on the DP ticket is not in their interest,” Sung said. “So I assume that we, DP members, will try hard to work it out in the last minute.”
His appointment drew a backlash from within as Bagh, who briefly served as an art director of a small theater in Seoul in the 1980s, had no proven managerial skill and experiences.
Council members’ simmering discontent burst out into accusations against Bagh for his poor handling of the center affairs.
During a speech at the council last week, Kim Tae-hee, a DP council member, denounced Bagh for his allegedly poor managerial skills.
“A whistleblower of the Sejong Center disclosed suspicious transaction records of a bank account of its employee. I suspect that this dubious deal is evidence backing that the employee received bribes from a person in return for favor,” Kim speculated. “The whistleblower quit the center after disclosing such information…. Bagh is responsible for the employee’s resignation as he failed to protect the whistleblower.”
The council member also alleged that Bagh misused the center’s budget in June. He had a business trip to Jeju Island for a festival hosted by a luxury hotel chain and spent 4 million won ($3,500).
“He didn’t show up at any event during the festival period. And I am wondering where the money was spent,” Kim said.
Bagh was not immediately available for comments.
Other officials from the Sejong Center, however, countered the whistleblower’s bribery allegations, saying that the financial transaction was about a debt issue between the employee in question and the third party.
At the same time, some staffers speculated that CEO Bagh is a victim of infightings at the center. There are plenty of people both inside and outside the center who are eager to get the top post as he or she will oversee 270 staffers, nine art groups and handle 40 billion won of annual budget, they said.