[Anchor]
Labor unions are strongly protesting the government's large-scale public agency consolidation and restructuring plan. Controversy is expected to persist as it has been confirmed that there were almost no research studies conducted to evaluate the feasibility of the consolidation.
This is an exclusive report by reporter Baegun.
[Reporter]
On September 3, the government announced a restructuring plan to reduce 109 public agencies, stating that it would integrate the nation's four port authorities into one.
The stated goal is to eliminate overlapping functions and boost international port competitiveness, but the labor union strongly opposed the move right from the announcement.
The union pointed out that a government research study back in 2011 already concluded that the actual benefits of integration would be minimal when considering administrative power and costs.
[Lee Young-ho / Head of Incheon Port Authority Labor Union (September 28): Present evidence, not expectations. Verify the effects, not just integration. And if there are no real benefits, boldly withdraw the plan.]
However, it was confirmed that the government pushed for integration once again without conducting additional research studies.
The same goes for the consolidation of other public agencies.
According to confirmation by SBS through the National Assembly across 30 central government ministries related to public agency consolidation, only three research studies were conducted: one for the integration of five power-generation public enterprises and another regarding the separation of LH (Korea Land and Housing Corporation).
Even among these, the studies were still ongoing or in the stage of modification and supplementation.
[Kim Jong-yang / National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee Member (People Power Party): Despite the need to go through a sufficient discussion or deliberation process, I get the sense that such a process was omitted.]
Experts point out that even though research studies are not mandatory, communication with stakeholders takes place during the research process, meaning that more explanation and consultation are needed even now.
[Choi Hyun-sun / Professor of Public Administration, Myongji University: Even when conducting a study, the important contents within it should be communicated with stakeholders to derive appropriate measures. Now, the communication and processes that have been missed until now must be gone through again.]
The Ministry of Economy and Finance explained that although research studies were not conducted, the public agency reform plan was formulated through consultations with relevant ministries and private experts based on criticisms from the media, the National Assembly, and the Board of Audit and Inspection.
It also stated that it plans to sufficiently gather opinions from the labor unions of each agency moving forward.
(Camera Reporter: Kang Dong-chul, Lee Seung-hwan | Video Editor: Jang Hyun-ki | Designer: Hwang Se-yeon)
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