Kim Sang-wook 'munches' on a sandwich during a work briefing... "It wasn't for show; I hope you won't misunderstand"

[Financial News]   Kim Sang-wook, mayor of Ulsan, has come under fire after footage showed him eating a sandwich while continuing a meeting during a work briefing.

Political sources said on the 30th of last month that footage of Mayor Kim eating a sandwich during a meeting has recently been spreading online, particularly in internet communities.
The footage was recorded on the 23rd of last month during a briefing on the major work plans of the Ulsan Metropolitan City Economic Affairs Bureau and Transportation Bureau. It shows Mayor Kim and city officials eating sandwiches while conducting the briefing.
Online users criticized the conduct as an overly casual, performative move, responding, "Regardless of whether he does his job well, doing that at an official event is just putting on a show," "Even manual laborers are given time to eat," and "He could have eaten during a break. What is he doing?"

As the controversy grew, Mayor Kim directly explained the situation in a video posted on his YouTube channel, 'Kim Sang-wook TV,' on the 27th of last month.
Kim said, "Many people have been criticizing me for eating a sandwich while receiving briefings from the Economic Affairs Bureau and Transportation Bureau, but if you just watch the video, you will understand what led up to it and what followed." He explained, "We had originally planned to receive the briefings from 10 a.m. to noon and finish, but as we discussed things, we ran short of time."
He continued, "By the time the Economic Affairs Bureau briefing ended, it was already almost noon. I asked the Transportation Bureau, 'Shall we receive your briefing in the afternoon instead?' and they said, 'No.' I said, 'Then let's prepare boxed meals and continue the briefing while we eat,' but because we decided this suddenly, we couldn't prepare boxed meals, so we said, 'Let's at least eat sandwiches and continue.'"
In the actual footage of the meeting, Mayor Kim also mentioned that the meal period had overlapped with the briefing and said, "Because of time constraints, I don't think you'll be able to eat once we start the Transportation Bureau briefing." One employee replied, "We anticipated eating lunch late."
Another employee then asked, "Shall we prepare boxed meals?" Kim replied, "If it's okay, I was thinking we could continue the briefing while eating boxed meals." When the food arrived, Kim said, "It's great that we're eating boxed meals together for Chuseok," and added, "Please eat while we continue."
Kim emphasized, "I wasn't trying to make a show of it, and it wasn't for show. I didn't eat alone," adding, "I hope you won't misunderstand."
[email protected] Kim Soo-yeon Reporter