Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at the finance desk of The Korea Times, focuses primarily on economic policy and government agencies, mainly covering the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. She previously covered financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, and earlier worked on the political, city and business desks, reporting on a wide range of issues.
Politicians, gov't officials raise ire
By Jun Ji-hye
Song Jung-geun
By Jun Ji-hye
Rep. Kwon Eun-hee
Politicians and government officials have drawn public criticism for their improper behavior in connection with the Sewol tragedy.
The latest controversial case involves Song Jung-geun of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD). He was caught pretending to be a family member of the missing at the gym used as a shelter for the passengers’ families in Jindo County, South Jeolla Province.
Widespread public anger boiled over after it became known that he was not a relative of any victim, but running to win the party ticket to be a member of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly in the June 4 local elections.
At a port terminal, he assumed the role as a representative of the families, claiming to be a pastor based in Ansan of Gyeonggi Province, which is home to Danwon High School, whose students were on board.
When President Park Geun-hye visited the gym on April 17, a day after the ferry carrying 476 passengers with over 300 teenagers sank off the southwestern coast of Jindo, Song also voluntarily played the role of mediator in talks between the relatives and the president.
Many online commentators denounced him, accusing him of using the despair and sadness of the families for his own political purposes.
The NPAD planned to convene its ethic committee to discuss disciplinary action against Song Wednesday, but the meeting was canceled as Song had quit the party the day before.
“Song left the party to take responsibility for stirring up criticism. But it was his volunteer work endorsed by the families,” said the NPAD in a text message sent to reporters.
Saenuri member apologizes
Rep. Kwon Eun-hee of the ruling Saenuri Party also became a target of criticism after she shared a malicious picture and video of a victim’s family member on her Facebook account, Monday.
The picture and video showed that the woman, who wailed with relatives of the missing at the gym, also appeared at the scene in Miryang in which residents protested against work of the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. to erect high-voltage transmission towers. Those indicated that the woman is not a family member of the victim but a protest instigator who appears at scenes of news events.
However, it was later found that the material was manipulated by some netizens, and she was a really a relative of the missing.
“I am extremely sorry for the family. I will submit to any punishment,” Kwon told the new conference.
Following the criticism, leaders of the governing party sent text messages to its members, urging them to use social network services more carefully.
Education Minister Seo Nam-soo also came under fire after photo journalists took pictures of him eating instant noodles sitting on an armchair at the gym, next to families of the missing and rescued students who were sitting or lying on the floor.
Other cases included Sejong City Mayor Yoo Han-sik from the governing camp, who drew criticism for holding a drinking party at a time when people are mourning the dead.
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