[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] The controversy surrounding the Small Business Federation's 'Dance Party Workshop' is escalating. Inside the organization, calls for Chairman Bae Dong-wook's resignation are growing strong.
The Small Business Federation Emergency Countermeasure Preparation Committee (hereafter Emergency Committee) held a press conference on the 13th at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul, stating, "Chairman Bae is a representative who must bear infinite responsibility representing the interests of 7 million small business owners, yet he has ignored the desperate situation of small business owners caused by the COVID-19 crisis and minimum wage issues, revealing clear limitations in representing their interests," and condemned, "He must take full responsibility for this situation and step down."
The statement was signed by 16 heads of organizations affiliated with the Small Business Federation, including Kim Im-yong, the Senior Vice Chairman of the Federation and Chairman of the Korea Gas Sales Cooperative Federation.
The Emergency Committee said, "Chairman Bae is a representative who must bear infinite responsibility representing the interests of 7 million small business owners, yet he has ignored the desperate situation of small business owners caused by the COVID-19 crisis and minimum wage issues, clearly revealing his limitations in representing their interests," and condemned, "Chairman Bae must take full responsibility for this situation and resign."
Last month, on the 25th and 26th, the Small Business Federation invited a girl group to their 'National Regional Organization and Industry Group Education and Policy Workshop' held in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, where they drank alcohol and performed provocative dances, causing controversy. Some criticized this as inappropriate given the surge in small business closures due to the COVID-19 crisis. Moreover, criticism intensified after it was revealed that the Federation is a statutory economic organization receiving tens of billions of won annually from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
Immediately after the controversy, Chairman Bae sent an apology letter to Federation members, stating, "I acknowledge that there were thoughtless aspects and sincerely apologize." However, he has yet to make an official statement and has been avoiding contact with the media and public appearances, causing the controversy to persist.
On the 10th, the Federation's secretariat labor union held a press conference at the Korea Federation of SMEs press room in Yeouido, revealing, "We proposed postponing the workshop considering the social perception due to COVID-19, but Chairman Bae reprimanded employees, ignored opinions, and pushed ahead with the workshop." They also raised allegations of Chairman Bae's corruption, including 'family favoritism' in job assignments, and called for his resignation.
On the 14th at 2 p.m., metropolitan and regional chairpersons affiliated with the Federation plan to hold a press conference and a rally in front of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups building in Daejeon, demanding Chairman Bae's resignation.
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