On the afternoon of the 11th, Governor Kim Jin-tae of Gangwon Province and about 80 members of the Gangwon Promotion Group visit Busan by taking the Donghae Line train and conduct promotional activities for the '2025-2026 Gangwon Visit Year' at the Bujeon Market. /Courtesy of Yonhap News

The head of Haeundae District Office in Busan sparked controversy by making derogatory remarks about the Yangyang area, a vacation spot on the East Coast, while Gangwon Governor Kim Jin-tae expressed that the comments were "incomprehensible."

In a briefing on the 28th, Governor Kim said, "Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun welcomes our Gangwon Province, which arrived in Busan by taking the East Coast train from Gangneung to Busan, but the head of the Haeundae District Office made incomprehensible remarks."

He added, "Both Haeundae and Yangyang are valuable tourism resources of Korea, so what is the point of saying there are many problems?" and noted that he expressed "serious concerns."

The East Coast line connecting Gangneung Station and Busan Bujeon Station opened on January 1 this year. The ITX-Maum train can make the trip between Gangneung and Busan in about 5 hours. The demand among residents of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, as well as residents of Gangwon, is high, resulting in frequent sellouts. The governor campaigned in Busan for the "2025-2026 Gangwon Visit Year" from the 11th to the 12th of this month.

On the same day, the governor said, "If you actually come, you will see how wonderful and well-operated it is. The truth will eventually come to light." He urged vacationers to visit the East Coast beaches.

Mayor Kim Sung-soo of Haeundae-gu, Busan, visits the site of complaints to confirm residents' inconveniences. /Courtesy of Haeundae District Office

Earlier, Kim Seong-su, the head of Haeundae District Office in Busan, reportedly made remarks during an unofficial meeting stating that "Yangyang is a place to get into trouble rather than surf" and "do not meet women who have been on working holidays in Australia." The Yangyang County public employee union expressed deep regret in a statement on the 25th, saying, "We deeply regret that inappropriate remarks about the region have been openly exchanged based on distorted perceptions."

In response to the controversy, the district head apologized in a statement, saying, "I sincerely apologize to everyone who has been concerned about my remarks." He stated, "There was no intention to belittle or demean the region or women in any way."

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