Seoul City councilors are pushing for the dismissal of Sejong Center CEO Bagh Inbae, a close associate of Mayor Park Won-soon, for mismanagement and feuds with staff.

It is the first attempt by city representatives to remove a chief of the public performing arts center in its 35-year history.

Bagh was appointed by the mayor in January last year. He has been under pressure to resign for causing discordance with the art team, increasing the budget deficit and disregarding the budget enforcement procedure.

The dismissal motion was recently introduced to the council’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, according to Rep. Kim Tae-hee from the Democratic Party.

“Overlooking inefficient and incompetent business management just because he is appointed by a fellow party member is to neglect my duty as a city council member,” said Kim, one of the proponents of Bagh’s dismissal.

(rene@heraldcorp.com)