Kimhae City Sports Council Criticized for Lax Management Announces Self-Reform Plan

"We will change everything except the name."

The Gimhae City Sports Council in Gyeongnam, criticized for improper use of subsidies and lax management, announced its own reform plan on the 11th, stating that it will break away from past wrong practices and make a fresh start.

According to the audit results of the city sports council disclosed on the city website on the 30th of last month, the city sports council received a total of 27 administrative actions, including 6 corrective measures and 8 warnings, for issues such as improper use of business promotion expenses, excessive payment of out-of-town travel expenses, and use of official vehicles for non-official purposes, along with financial measures to recover subsidies.

Gyeongnam Gimhae City Hall.
Photo by Gimhae City Hall

On that day, the city sports council stated that it would humbly accept the audit results.

Along with the abolition of the standing vice president position, it promised to change the appointment of the secretary-general, previously recommended by the president, to an open recruitment system, and to use corporate cards and business promotion expenses in accordance with execution guidelines.

It also pledged to strengthen prior consultations with Gimhae City, the supervisory institution, in all areas, and to actively engage with the Gimhae City Council in budget formulation and legislative activities.

As a measure for personnel reform, it proposed ▲ expanding the board of directors ▲ abolishing the standing vice president position and operating multiple vice presidents ▲ establishing the principle of open recruitment for the secretary-general.

As institutional reform measures, it mentioned ▲ appointing the Gimhae City sports officer as an ex officio director ▲ codifying prior consultation on budget-related matters ▲ revising the sports council’s articles of association and regulations to adjust the efficient organization of the secretariat.

As behavioral reform measures, it suggested ▲ establishing a management manual for workplace sports teams ▲ strengthening communication and cooperation among sponsors of workplace sports teams ▲ systematic athlete development and selection ▲ enhancing communication among executives and delegates.

Heo Mun-seong, president of the sports council, said, "If internal reform is not achieved within the first half of this year, we will boldly innovate the organizational culture even by dispatching public officials from Gimhae City," adding, "We will return to the original intention of serving the citizens and become a Gimhae City Sports Council loved by the citizens and trusted by athletes."