[2023 National Audit] Kim Seonghwan "Parachute Appointments Rampant in Small and Medium Business Administration Affiliates"

Kim Seong-hwan, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Concerns have been raised about widespread parachute appointments in 11 organizations under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

On the 27th, Kim Seong-hwan, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized during the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups held by the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, and Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, stating, "As the COVID-19 pandemic ended, the economic recession hit amid the triple crisis, causing self-employed and small business owners to struggle, while personnel appointments under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration have turned into a patronage appointment festival."

The organizations under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups include 11 entities such as the Korea SMEs and Startups Promotion Corporation and the Small Enterprise and Market Service. The organizations under the Korean Intellectual Property Office include six entities such as the Korea Invention Promotion Association and the Intellectual Property Research Institute. According to Kim's claim, 27 parachute appointees from the Yoon Seok-yeol administration are present in 12 institutions, accounting for 70% of these affiliated organizations.

Kim criticized parachute appointees unrelated to SMEs and startups, including Kang Seok-jin, Chairman of the Korea SMEs and Startups Promotion Corporation (20th National Assembly member from the Liberty Korea Party), Park Jeong-yeol, Standing Auditor (People Power Party member of the Gyeongnam Provincial Council), Lee Sang-young, Non-standing Director (People Power Party member of Jinju City Council, Gyeongnam), Kim Ho-yeol, Non-standing Director (Secretary-General of the Saenuri Party Gyeongnam Provincial Party), Park Sang-hyun, Non-standing Director (20th Presidential Transition Committee member), and Song Jeong-hyun, Non-standing Director (Vice Chairman of Goseong County Council, Gyeongnam; Saenuri Party).

Regarding the Small Enterprise and Market Service, parachute appointees include Park Seong-hyo, Chairman (19th National Assembly member from the Saenuri Party), Kwon Dae-su, Vice Chairman (People Power Party prospective candidate for Andong Mayor), Choi Gye-hee, Non-standing Director (Public Relations Chairman of the People Power Party Gyeongbuk Provincial Party), and Bae Hoon-cheon, Non-standing Director (Co-representative of the Honam Alternative Forum).

For Korea Venture Investment Corp., parachute appointees include Yoo Woong-hwan, CEO (20th Presidential Transition Committee Economic Subcommittee 2 member), Woo Seung-bong, Standing Auditor (Senior Administrator of the Presidential Office Public Communication Office under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration), and Shin Sang-han, Standing Director (Author of the Blacklist Investigation White Paper in the cultural and artistic sector).

Kim stated, "By the end of this year, the terms of executives in organizations under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Korean Intellectual Property Office will expire, creating at least 151 new positions," adding, "This means there is a high possibility of additional parachute appointments of non-experts."