Citizen Group Opposes Integration of Research Functions Between Incheon Social Service Agency and Women and Family Foundation

Concerns Over Weakened Research Functions and Conflicts or Discord Among Team Members

A civic group in Incheon has opposed the integration of research functions between the Incheon Social Service Institute and the Incheon Women and Family Foundation.

On the 21st, the Incheon Peace Welfare Solidarity held a press conference at Incheon City Hall, stating, "The forced integration of the research functions of the two institutions promoted by Incheon City could weaken welfare policy research functions and damage the expertise of each institution."

They urged, "The city should halt the plan to integrate research functions and promptly prepare measures to enhance the welfare level of citizens."

Earlier, on the 7th, Incheon City announced a legislative notice for a city ordinance amendment to transfer and integrate the research functions of the Social Service Institute, a city-funded institution, into the Women and Family Foundation. The city plans to collect opinions from various sectors until the 28th and then submit the ordinance to the city council.

Incheon Peace and Welfare Solidarity held a press conference on the 21st at Incheon City Hall opposing the integration of research functions between the Incheon Social Service Agency and the Women and Family Foundation.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Incheon Peace Welfare Solidarity criticized, "After establishing the Incheon Welfare Foundation in 2019, the city forcibly expanded and reorganized it into the Incheon Social Service Institute in 2020 by adding social welfare facility operation services. However, within less than three years, the administration has caused confusion in the personnel and organizational management of the Social Service Institute by deciding to separate the research organization, showing inconsistent administrative actions."

The group pointed out, "The biggest problem with this research organization integration is that the integration plan was notified without any minimum consultation process or prior agreement with the stakeholders, namely the policy research office staff of the Social Service Institute. When issues arose, the city announced it would hold a public hearing in April, but since the plan is to complete the integration of research functions by April, such hearings can only be a formal ritual."

The Incheon Peace Welfare Solidarity demands a full reconsideration of the research function integration plan, the establishment of a democratic opinion-gathering process involving stakeholders, civil society, and welfare field workers, and the formulation of detailed plans to strengthen research functions to improve the welfare level of Incheon citizens. They have also announced actions to submit opposition statements against the integration plan and ordinance amendment and to seek their withdrawal.