Collapse of Gangwon governor stirs speculation
By Jung Min-ho
Choi Moon-soon
Concern and speculation are circulating about Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon who fainted during a council meeting Wednesday.
An hour after taking questions from provincial councilors, Choi suddenly fell unconscious at 2:35 p.m. and was taken to his official residence.
Doctors later checked his health and said that too much stress and overwork probably brought on temporary dizziness, causing him to fall.
However, following disclosures that the governor had been drinking alcohol a couple of hours before the meeting, the incident quickly became a target for political attacks.
“A drunk Choi fainted at a council meeting. We want him to resign,” said councilors from the ruling Saenuri Party in a statement. “We are shocked by his behavior.”
The provincial government denied allegations that he was drunk at the time, saying he only had a drink or two during lunch with 14 other people, including Chinese visitors.
“Over the past few days, there has been tremendous work for him. He barely slept the previous night because of his hectic schedule,” an official from the government said.
On Thursday, Choi underwent a health checkup at Hallym University Medical Center in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.