... Gyeongbuk Provincial Council Points Out During Administrative Audit

Kim Yong-hyun "Lack of Internet Promotion"

Do Gi-uk "Many Disciplinary Employees"

The Culture and Environment Committee of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council (Chairman Kim Dae-il) conducted an administrative audit of the Gyeongbuk Environmental Training Institute on the 7th.

On this day, the Culture and Environment Committee members of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council received reports on the major business progress of 2023 and the key business plans for 2024 from the Gyeongbuk Environmental Training Institute, and conducted a rigorous audit through pointing out overall issues in the operation of the institute, including the status of environmental education promotion.

The Culture and Environment Committee of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council is conducting an administrative audit of the Gyeongbuk Environmental Training Institute.

Assemblyman Kim Yong-hyun (Gumi) of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council urged that the Gyeongbuk Environmental Training Institute should play a role in creating an image of Gyeongsangbuk-do as an environmentally clean area through education on the environment and ESG management. He also pointed out the lack of internet promotion for the institute and emphasized the need to lead positive evaluations of environmental education and encourage participation from residents through active promotion.

Assemblyman Park Gyu-tak (Proportional Representation) criticized the lack of standards and consistency in accounting related to the settlement statement, mentioning that a large amount of instructor fees was paid to a specific person, and requested that instructors be invited evenly according to relevant regulations.

Assemblyman Jeong Kyung-min (Proportional Representation) criticized the institute for applying for an increase in subsidies without considering surplus funds. He also pointed out that parts submitted on the same issue in 2022 were omitted this time in the administrative audit materials, highlighting the inadequacy in the preparation of the audit documents.

Assemblywoman Kim Kyung-sook (Proportional Representation) emphasized that the lack of performance in environmental education was due to not considering recruitment timing or target groups, and stressed the need to improve this by opening demand-centered curricula. She also insisted that unclear accounting audits and settlements, which were pointed out in last year’s administrative audit but have not been improved, are problematic.

Assemblyman Yeon Gyu-sik (Pohang) requested that cultural projects deviating from the institute’s original purpose be excluded from the institute’s projects, and that focus be placed on important issues such as the climate crisis and carbon neutrality. He emphasized that environmental education is an important role of the Gyeongbuk Office of Education, and that the institute’s role should be revitalized through active collaboration with the education office.

Assemblyman Lee Dong-eop (Pohang) pointed out that key positions at the Gyeongbuk Environmental Training Institute have long-term vacancies, and insisted that morale among staff should be boosted and existing organizations utilized by replenishing staff through internal promotions. He also urged the development of new programs to overcome regional limitations as a metropolitan environmental training institute.

Assemblyman Do Gi-wook (Yecheon) pointed out that the number of disciplinary cases at the Gyeongsangbuk-do Environmental Training Institute accounts for 10% of the total, stating that many disciplinary actions in a small organization are undesirable and called for improvements. He also criticized that environmental education consignment projects are not widely conducted in 22 cities and counties, emphasizing the need to widely promote environmental education to residents and improve participation rates of cities and counties so that the institute can be an environmental training center enjoyed by all residents.

Chairman Kim Dae-il (Andong) pointed out that although education is the original purpose of the Gyeongbuk Environmental Training Institute, many projects unrelated to this purpose, such as the Eco Green Choir and florist education, are being conducted, and urged the institute to clearly set the direction it should take. He also stated that while environmental education so far has been about listening and understanding, it should become education where thoughts turn into actions in the future.