Seo Im-seok, a Gwangju City Council member who sent text messages to public officials announcing his daughter's first birthday ahead of the council's administrative audit and budget review, apologized.
On the 4th, Seo posted on his social networking service (SNS), "With a father's heart, I hoped for the pure blessing of my first daughter, and I thought I was contacting only those who I believed would wish happiness for my child," adding, "The cause and responsibility lie with me. I sincerely apologize." He continued, "I will humbly accept the criticism and blame to come, and I will take this as an opportunity to become a better person."
He also said, "My daughter, my wife, and my family have done nothing wrong," and appealed, "My family is having a hard time, so I earnestly ask that you stop the crude attacks directed at them."
Earlier, Seo sparked controversy over impropriety after sending text messages to acquaintances, including public officials, saying "my daughter turned one."
He explained, "I sent it out of a pure desire to be congratulated, and I did not receive any tokens of sincerity from public officials." However, some public officials who received the texts said they "felt pressured to send congratulatory money."