Pohang City Mentions Possible Dissolution of Municipal Art Troupe... "7.1 Billion Won Invested Annually, Work Only 2 Hours a Day"

Members Show Strong Response to Condemnation of 'Union Suppression and Abnormal Operations'

Online performance by the Pohang City Art Troupe.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Pohang City, which is in conflict with the municipal arts troupe union over the practice of shortened working hours, has mentioned the possibility of disbanding the arts troupe, and the controversy is expected to spread.

On the 21st, Pohang City stated in a press release titled "Position on the Municipal Arts Troupe Statement" that "Among the 133 members, 75 (56.4%) reside outside the city, and with an annual budget of 7.1 billion KRW invested in the arts troupe, we will promptly review suspension and the continuation of the troupe."

Referring to the ongoing large-scale "Getting a Pohang Address" campaign to prevent the collapse of the 500,000 population defense line directly linked to local allocation tax, the city appears to be counterattacking the municipal arts troupe union, which has raised issues about work behavior and the high salary of the conductor.

The title of Pohang City's press release that day was "Annual Budget of 7.1 Billion KRW Invested, Work Only 2 Hours a Day."

Earlier, the union stated in a statement, "Although the working hours are set by ordinance from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in reality, work is done from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., and the rest is operated in a telecommuting form," and criticized, "Pohang City invokes principles and rules under the pretext of normalizing work whenever the situation is unfavorable."

The shortened working hours are due to the complete lack of spaces in the Cultural and Arts Center for part-specific or individual practice, and it was reported that four members who commuted according to the existing working hours as a form of protest were notified as subjects for dismissal.

Regarding this, Pohang City stated, "The three notices for normal work from June 8 to August 11 last year were to consider the lack of practice and skill improvement during 10 weeks (50 days) of telecommuting and 5 weeks (25 days) of staggered commuting," and emphasized, "The fact that 110 members left work without permission for up to 43 days violates the municipal arts troupe members' service regulations."

Also, "Regular evaluations are conducted every two years to assess the skills and reappointment of municipal arts troupe members," and explained, "Among the 47 members scoring below 70 points in total, 4 members who scored below 70 in practical evaluation were not dismissed but given another chance."

Regarding the special recruitment and high salary issue of the municipal symphony orchestra artistic director and conductor, Pohang City dismissed it by stating, "We followed the proper administrative procedures by appointing through the recommendation of the municipal arts troupe director (vice mayor) and the review and resolution of the municipal arts troupe operation committee."

Regarding the union's claim of non-conclusion of a collective agreement, Pohang City also expressed incomprehension. They have been steadily conducting practical negotiations since 2007, and since March 2020, practical negotiations have been temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 situation.

Pohang City pressured the municipal arts troupe union by stating, "As the reduction of local allocation tax severely impacts city management, we are participating in the campaign to regain a population of 510,000 by encouraging company employees, university students, soldiers, etc., to register their address in Pohang, and have also issued 80 billion KRW in bonds to cover the insufficient budget."