▲ Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae presides over a monthly meeting
Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae did not hide her discomfort, saying she was "at a loss" after her own Democratic Party requested records of the "governor's undisclosed schedule" for the parliamentary audit.
In a post published on Facebook on the night of October 9, Governor Choo stated, "An undisclosed schedule is not a secret schedule. There can be no secrets in a governor's schedule."
She explained, "For outside schedules, there are aides and drivers. Because I am a well-known public figure, people inevitably recognize me wherever I go, and whether walking down the street or entering a restaurant, I draw people's attention," adding, "Most of the governor's undisclosed schedules since taking office have consisted of briefings and meetings."
Governor Choo emphasized that she has made every second count during her first 100 days in office by assessing conditions and drawing up emergency measures for issues such as the welfare-eligible elderly population aged 65 and older increasing by 16,000 every month, an incomplete budget that only covered nine months and was completely spent, and the background and repayment of local government bond issuances.
She added that the vice governor attended outside events in her place unless her attendance was unavoidable.
Governor Choo criticized the party, saying, "As the nominal ruling party, far from showing concern, demanding data on the governor's undisclosed schedule leaves me utterly baffled."
Some observers interpret the demand for undisclosed schedule records as carrying political motives targeting Choo, who is classified as a hardliner on prosecution reform and has continued to voice opposition against Kim Ji-yong, the nominee to lead the Serious Crime Investigation Agency.
The National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee and the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee will conduct parliamentary audits of Gyeonggi Province on October 13 and 19, respectively.
(Photo: Courtesy of Gyeonggi Province, Yonhap News)
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