Ulsan mayor's YouTube comments during council meeting spark political clash

Ulsan Mayor Kim Sang-wook is under fire from ruling People Power Party city council members for his unconventional communication style, specifically for posting comments during a live YouTube broadcast of a city council meeting. Seven council members held a press conference accusing the mayor of undermining democratic order.

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Mayor Kim Sang-wook's act of posting real-time comments while watching the live broadcast of the city council's plenary session is a highly inappropriate act that undermines the basic order of democracy.

"Mayor Kim Sang-wook's act of posting real-time comments while watching the live broadcast of the city council's plenary session is a highly inappropriate act that undermines the basic order of democracy," stated Gong Jin-hyuk, chairman of the Ulsan City Council's Steering Committee. The council members argued that disrespecting the council disrespects its constituents and the citizens of Ulsan. They demanded that Mayor Kim reflect deeply and take responsibility for his actions.

The controversy arose after Mayor Kim posted comments on the YouTube channel of a local broadcaster during a city council session on August 4. He sought to correct what he perceived as factual inaccuracies in council members' statements and provide additional context. However, his participation in the live chat drew mixed reactions from viewers, with some questioning if his focus was on council deliberations or online communication, and others suggesting he should choose his time and place more carefully.

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Disrespecting the council is ultimately disrespecting the representative body of citizens, and it is no different from disrespecting the citizens.

Mayor Kim defended his actions, stating on his YouTube channel that he saw no issue with watching live broadcasts and communicating with citizens during council meetings. He claimed he was "listening to citizens' opinions." He later posted a video explaining that while he attended council meetings as mayor, he lacked opportunities to speak. He wanted to communicate with citizens and listen to their feedback, asserting that he did not disrupt the council meeting and was diligently taking notes while listening to the council members' remarks. He asked for the public to view his efforts positively.

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Can't I watch the live broadcast when the city council is in session? Can't I communicate with citizens?

This incident highlights the growing friction between the Ulsan city administration and its city council, which is dominated by the People Power Party, creating a "ruling party minority" situation for the mayor. Previous conflicts include the council's rejection of an ordinance on public deliberation and delays in approving organizational reforms. The mayor's transparent communication style, while praised by some for fostering openness, also leads to misunderstandings and debates.

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I wanted to communicate with citizens and listen to their opinions.