Lee Cheol, Former Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member, Raises Allegations of Jeonnam Province Construction Favoritism Cover-up

Lee Cheol, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] Lee Cheol, a Jeonnam Provincial Assembly member (Democratic Party of Korea, Wando 1), raised suspicions of preferential treatment and tacit approval by Jeonnam Province regarding the construction of Nokdong New Port.

According to Assemblyman Lee on the 20th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's "Standards for Local Government Bidding and Contract Execution" stipulates that before the completion of basic and detailed designs, the ordering department must conclude a new technology or patented construction method usage agreement with the technology holder in accordance with Article 4, Chapter 3, Section 2, Subparagraphs (1) and (4) of the "Contract Execution Standards." Furthermore, when concluding the usage agreement, clear agreements on technology royalties or subcontracting aspects (scope, compensation, or payment rate) must be made before requesting the contract.

Assemblyman Lee stated, "The successful bidder and the technology holder should conduct smooth consultations. However, when the usage agreement was concluded in 2012, Jeonnam Province unilaterally modified the contents of the agreement and concluded it," and criticized, "Jeonnam Province is ignoring the existing agreement and continuing reckless administration, claiming 'there is no legal problem.'

He continued, "All three designs of Nokdong New Port were carried out through illegal subcontracting, but Jeonnam Province is tacitly approving it," and pointed out, "It is inappropriate administration not to prepare a 'New Technology and Patent Agreement' when patents are applied to the design."

Additionally, he said, "The existing agreement contents must also be concluded according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's contract execution standards. Failure to reflect this may cause conflicts and disputes between the contracting parties and the technology holders, resulting in a poor agreement," and raised suspicions, "Currently, patented blocks are applied in the design of Nokdong New Port, but since no agreement has been concluded, the intent is unknown."

Assemblyman Lee firmly drew the line, saying, "The claim by Jeonnam Province officials that 'it was handled according to the Market Opening Support Act, Local Contract Act, and Procurement Business Act' is not valid. Patented blocks must be registered in the Public Procurement Service's Nara Marketplace for the relevant laws to apply," and added, "Currently, no patented block such as the Sofa Block is registered with the Public Procurement Service."

He further stated, "Since the blocks applied to Nokdong New Port were selected as patented Sofa Blocks, according to Jeonnam Province's guidelines, they must have been selected by the Jeonnam Province Construction Work Method and Material Selection Committee," and demanded special measures, asking, "Would the residents trust Jeonnam Province's administration, which does not humbly accept the criticisms from the Provincial Assembly's administrative audit and Jeonnam Province's audit?"