Sogongyeon Union "Apologizes for 'Dance Workshop' Instead of Executive Committee... Requests Meeting with Minister Park Young-sun"

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] The Labor Union of the Secretariat of the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise (hereinafter referred to as KFME) announced on the 10th, "On behalf of the current KFME executive board, which has not issued a sincere public apology regarding the recent controversy over the KFME workshop, we sincerely apologize to all micro-enterprises and the public nationwide who are suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic."

The KFME Secretariat Labor Union held a press conference at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul, on the same day and released a statement urging, "We demand that the KFME executive board take responsibility for the workshop incident."

The union stated, "Despite the secretariat staff repeatedly advising the executive board not to proceed with the workshop, considering the COVID-19 situation and public opinion, their advice was ignored. The entire process, including the booking of the performance team, was decided solely by the executive board without informing the staff whether the event would proceed."

Furthermore, the union said, "As a result of this incident, the trust in KFME, which has been the representative organization of micro-enterprises and has worked closely with various government agencies, the National Assembly, other organizations, and micro-enterprises nationwide to address their difficulties, has been utterly destroyed. This has immediately led to discussions about budget cuts for next year, putting the position of the dedicated staff who have passionately protected KFME at risk."

They added, "KFME is not a group for the sole benefit of the president but a legitimate statutory economic organization established with the hard-earned national tax and the aspirations of micro-enterprises. This incident should serve as an opportunity for KFME to be reborn as a healthy organization where rationality and democratic principles operate."

They also earnestly requested a meeting with Minister Park Young-sun of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, saying, "As the competent ministry, we sincerely ask you to step forward to resolve this issue."

Earlier, KFME held a "National Regional Organizations and Industry Group Education and Policy Workshop" in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, on the 25th and 26th of last month, inviting a girl group and causing controversy by holding a drinking and dancing party. Since KFME is a statutory economic organization receiving budget support from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, criticism has grown as such an event was held while micro-enterprises are suffering severe difficulties due to COVID-19.

After the controversy erupted, KFME President Bae Dong-wook sent an apology letter to members, stating, "I acknowledge that there were thoughtless aspects and sincerely apologize," but has yet to make an official public statement.