Seoul mayor scolded by his own party for repetitive subway accidents

Seoul mayor scolded by his own party for repetitive subway accidents. June. 09, 2016 07:40. by 차길호기자 kilo@donga.com. The main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea called in Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon who is also a member of the party, on Wednesday for a rebuke to late handling of safety screen door accident at Guui Station in Seoul. At an urgent meeting that lasted for 30 minutes, Park bowed low and said, "I apologize for having caused trouble to the party. I am who should be blamed."

Minjoo party lawmakers harshly criticized Park, who has been considered an influential presidential candidate. "Things that have been pointed out at national audits haven't been improved at al. It is deplorable since I had thought Seoul city could have done better," said Byun Jae-il, head of the party policy committee. "Our party takes this issue seriously. Mayor Park should come up with fundamental plans for both the city and our nation, and for the sake of his own political career."

"This is far from what Mayor Park has said he is hoping for," said Rep. Shin Kyung-min, who leads the party's Seoul chapter. "This is so disappointing of the Seoul mayor, whose role is to improve Seoulites’ livelihoods," said Lee Cheol-hee, head of the party’s strategic planning committee. "Mayor Park should take responsibility for this accident and should prevent recurrence," the party's interim chief Kim Jong-in said at an introductory remark.

At a closed session, some reportedly tried to defend Park by saying that the accident was caused due to former Mayor Oh Se-hoon's restructuring move, but criticisms were said to have mostly directed towards the incumbent mayor.