- Chuncheon City Council to Discuss Holding Ethics Special Committee Soon
- Cursed at Police Officers at Precinct on the 28th After Failing to Pay Taxi Fare
- Chuncheon Police Station Books and Investigates the Councilor on Charges of Drunken Disturbance
Chuncheon City Councilor Kim Ji-sook of the Democratic Party has issued an official apology after receiving a heavy disciplinary action of a one-year party membership suspension for failing to pay a taxi fare while intoxicated and causing a disturbance at a police precinct. As discussions on additional disciplinary measures by the Chuncheon City Council's Ethics Special Committee are imminent, debates over the ethical responsibilities of elected public officials are spreading within local political circles.
Councilor Kim held a press conference at the Chuncheon City Hall briefing room on the 31st to express her apology for her actions. In the wake of this incident, the Democratic Party's Gangwon Provincial Chapter resolved to suspend Councilor Kim's party membership for one year on the previous day, the 30th. The Chuncheon Police Station has also booked Councilor Kim on charges of drunken disturbance and initiated official investigation procedures.
The incident occurred on the night of the 28th. It was reported that Councilor Kim, who was intoxicated at the time, failed to pay her taxi fare, prompting the taxi driver to take her to the Hupyeong District Police Precinct in Chuncheon, and that she caused a disturbance by cursing at police officers during the process. The police did not make an emergency arrest at the time, citing the need for identity verification.
Councilor Kim's side stated that she had already apologized to the taxi driver on the day of the incident and is in the process of apologizing to the victimized police officers as well. They also explained that her revisit to the precinct in the early morning hours, after receiving emergency room treatment for a fall on her way home, was solely for the purpose of apologizing and that no additional disturbance took place.
However, as the investigation by judicial authorities and heavy disciplinary action by her political party have already been finalized, the level of disciplinary action taken by the Chuncheon City Council is expected to be a key variable determining the councilor's future political career.