A petition has been submitted to Seoul City requesting an official review of the reasons for Park Wi's dismissal as a city ambassador and his suitability for the role, following the controversy surrounding the release of CCTV footage of a fall incident on the KTX.
On August 25, a post titled "Request for Official Review of Park Wi's Dismissal as Seoul City Ambassador" appeared on an online community. The author of the post, identified as A, stated, "I submitted a petition to Seoul City through the National Petition System, and it has been designated to the Public Relations Office of Seoul City."
The petition does not call for Park Wi's immediate dismissal but seeks an official determination from the city on whether the recent controversy falls under the dismissal criteria outlined in the current "Ordinance on the Operation of Seoul City Ambassadors" and whether it is appropriate for him to continue in his role.
According to Article 4, Section 3 of the ordinance, the mayor can dismiss an ambassador during their term if they are deemed unsuitable for the role due to damage to their dignity or other reasons.
A argued that when Park Wi was appointed as an ambassador, there were expectations for him to promote the rights of disabled individuals, barrier-free environments, welfare policies, and youth policies based on his personal experiences. Therefore, it is essential to assess how the recent controversy impacts his ability to fulfill these duties.
However, a dismissal is not automatically decided simply because a controversy or petition has arisen. The actual decision will be made after Seoul City reviews the facts and assesses his suitability for the role.
A is awaiting a response from Seoul City regarding whether any actions have been taken concerning Park Wi's current status as an ambassador and whether the criteria for dismissal and suitability for duty have been evaluated.
Additionally, A has requested clarification on whether Park Wi's recently canceled special lecture at Seoul City Hall was related to his ambassador activities, whether there was any consultation with the Public Relations Office during the cancellation process, and what changes might occur in Park Wi's future ambassador activities.
The controversy began when Park Wi posted CCTV footage of a fall incident that occurred while he was traveling on the KTX on his YouTube channel. The footage showed Park Wi falling forward after his wheelchair's wheel got caught on the foot of a social service worker who was assisting him as he descended a ramp. Park Wi stated that the worker apologized immediately after the incident and that he understood it was an accident. However, he released the video to raise awareness about the dangers faced by wheelchair users and safety issues.
Following the release of the footage, criticism emerged online, suggesting that despite the worker's apology for a simple mistake, Park Wi's decision to publish the CCTV footage effectively targeted and singled out the individual.
As the backlash grew, Park Wi deleted the video and apologized, acknowledging that he had not fully considered the perspective of the worker who had tried to help him and had apologized on-site, admitting that his method of communication was inadequate.
In the wake of the controversy, several scheduled lectures and performances were canceled, including the "2026 Seoul Youth Policy Network Insight Lecture" at Seoul City Hall and the "Wi-racle Park Wi Talk Concert" organized by the Gangnam Cultural Foundation.
This petition reflects a demand for Seoul City to officially assess whether it is appropriate for Park Wi to continue his role as an ambassador, with the actual decision on dismissal expected to be based on the city's review results.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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