[K Original Tracker] Lee Jong-bae: "No ODA Budget Execution Before Signing the Memorandum of Understanding"

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy National Audit Highlights
Practice of Prior Budget Execution, Later Government Approval
Minister Bang Moon-kyu: "Will Ensure Strict Management"

Lee Jong-bae, member of the People Power Party (Photo by Yonhap News)

Lee Jong-bae, a member of the People Power Party, pointed out, "The Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy executed the budget for 39 cases in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects before signing the memorandum of understanding. If the recipient country gives up due to mistakes, it results in budget waste. Such incidents must not happen."

On the 26th, during the comprehensive audit questioning of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy by the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, Lee said, "The wrong aspects of the ODA projects must be corrected." This was related to the articles reported by this paper on the 25th: '[Exclusive] Solar panels bought with ODA budget... left abandoned in a warehouse in Chungcheong Province for three years' and '[Exclusive] Overseas aid project worth 50 billion KRW, no contract even existed.'

He especially criticized, "Despite the Office for Government Policy Coordination notifying the suspension of the project due to the Myanmar military coup, the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology purchased all the solar materials, which are still in the warehouse. They might become unusable over time. The regulations are also insufficient."

Minister Bang Moon-kyu of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is speaking at the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, Small and Medium Venture Business Committee audit held on the 10th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Lee added, "The ODA budget has tripled compared to 2010," and "I point out that the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology arbitrarily pushed forward projects, causing confusion and budget waste."

In response to these criticisms, Moon Sung-kyu, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, stated, "We will strictly manage the budget in line with the increased budget."

■Infographic Page■

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