Kim Young-hwan, the Governor of Chungcheongbuk-do, has found himself at the center of a storm of criticism after attending a drinking gathering with Cheongju City Council members during the solemn Osong Accident 2nd Anniversary Memorial Period, a time he himself had declared to be free of alcohol and entertainment. The incident occurred on the evening of July 12, 2025, at a restaurant in Gangseo-dong, Cheongju City, where Governor Kim and four council members, all affiliated with the People Power Party, gathered for what was described as a dinner meeting.
According to eyewitness accounts and photos shared on social media by one of the attending council members, the atmosphere was far from the expected somber tone of the memorial period. The images showed Governor Kim and the council members wearing orange aprons, their faces flushed, holding glasses of beer. On the table were three bottles of soju and three bottles of beer, alongside meat dishes. The gathering began around 5:30 PM, but Governor Kim arrived approximately an hour late, around 6:30 PM, and stayed for about an hour.
The controversy erupted when one council member posted the photos in a group chat on social media, sparking immediate backlash from citizens and civic organizations. The Osong Accident Citizens' Countermeasure Committee and Chungbuk Participatory Autonomy Citizens' Alliance were among the most vocal critics, condemning the officials for what they called a blatant disregard for the grief of the bereaved families and survivors of the tragic accident.
The Osong underground roadway accident, which occurred on July 15, 2023, was a devastating event where the temporary embankment of the nearby Mihocheon river collapsed, flooding the Gungpyeong 2nd underground roadway in Osong-eup. This disaster resulted in 14 deaths and 16 injuries, marking a somber chapter in Chungcheongbuk-do’s recent history. In recognition of the tragedy, the provincial government and Cheongju City declared a memorial period from July 7 to July 15, 2025, during which all officials were required to wear memorial ribbons, observe moments of silence during meetings, and abstain from drinking and entertainment to maintain a respectful atmosphere.
Governor Kim, who had personally announced this memorial period and even visited the Osong Accident Citizens' Branch on July 7, 2025, apologized for his actions. A spokesperson for Chungcheongbuk-do stated, "Governor Kim drank about two glasses of alcohol during a discussion about provincial issues, and his face tends to flush even after one glass." The spokesperson added that the governor arrived late, stayed for about an hour, and used the meeting to explain issues such as the construction of the Cheongju dome stadium and the activation of the Osong Station overpass to the city council, seeking their cooperation.
Despite this explanation, public sentiment has been overwhelmingly negative. Lee Seon-yeong, Executive Committee member of the Osong Accident Citizens' Countermeasure Committee and Secretary-General of Chungbuk Participatory Autonomy Citizens' Alliance, expressed deep regret and anger, stating, "Governor Kim is the highest disaster safety official in Chungcheongbuk-do who should mourn the accident more than anyone else. Yet, despite ordering staff to refrain from drinking and entertainment during the memorial period, he was seen drinking openly. His conduct was hypocritical and deeply disappointing."
The council chairman, Kim Hyun-ki, defended the gathering as a pre-arranged dinner meeting set a month prior, asserting that the photo was taken naturally during dinner and that it was not a drinking party, but a dinner where he drank only two glasses of a soju-beer mix. He said, "Even though it was a memorial period, I thought it was acceptable to have dinner. The photo was taken naturally, and one council member posted it without thinking." However, this explanation has done little to quell the criticism.
Further fueling the controversy is Governor Kim’s previous record. In March 2023, during a forest fire in Jecheon, he faced public outcry for not visiting the disaster site and instead spending the night drinking and singing with local youth groups in Chungju, about 40 kilometers away. At that time, photos showed him with flushed cheeks holding a drink, and although his office initially downplayed the incident, he later apologized for his "thoughtless behavior." This pattern of conduct has led many to question his commitment to his responsibilities during crises.
Political voices have also weighed in. The Democratic Party's Chungcheongbuk-do chapter harshly criticized Governor Kim, saying, "He is the very person responsible for failing to prevent the Osong accident. His excuse that he was explaining provincial affairs while drinking at a table full of alcohol bottles is unconvincing. He must immediately apologize to the bereaved families and citizens and take responsibility."
The Osong Accident Citizens' Countermeasure Committee echoed this sentiment in a statement, emphasizing that the governor's declaration of a solemn memorial week was "shattered in just a few days." They called on Governor Kim and Chairman Kim to publicly apologize to the victims' families and the citizens for their inappropriate behavior.
Chungcheongbuk-do and Cheongju City have maintained strict guidelines throughout the memorial period. All officials are expected to wear memorial ribbons, engage in moments of silence during official events, and avoid any form of drinking or entertainment to honor the victims properly. The fact that the governor and city council members, who bear significant responsibility for disaster safety and local governance, violated these expectations has been seen as a serious breach of public trust.
Governor Kim’s office has stated that the meeting was intended to discuss pressing provincial matters and to seek the city council's cooperation on projects like the Cheongju dome stadium and the Osong Station overpass. They acknowledged that the governor drank only one or two glasses of beer at the council members' request and expressed regret for causing concern among citizens due to the inappropriate timing.
Nevertheless, the incident has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many citizens and activists who feel that the actions of their elected officials have undermined the solemnity of the memorial period and disrespected those affected by the tragedy.
As Chungcheongbuk-do and Cheongju City continue to observe the Osong Accident memorial period until July 15, 2025, the debate over Governor Kim’s conduct serves as a stark reminder of the high expectations placed on public officials during times of collective mourning and the importance of aligning actions with words.
