Through 5-Minute Speech: "Complete Relocation Will Be Nullified if Defense Ministry Is Restructured"... Political Circles Urged to Respond
Daejeon City Council member Han Young Lee is making a five-minute speech at the 282nd 2nd regular session on the 5th. / Daejeon City Council
There are concerns that the complete relocation of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to Daejeon may become difficult.
On the 5th, during a five-minute free speech at the 282nd regular session of the Daejeon City Council, Councilor Lee Hanyeong (People Power Party, Seo-gu District 6) pointed out, "With the confirmation of DAPA's relocation to Daejeon in 2022, the city has been given a crucial opportunity to become a hub for the defense industry, but recently, there have been suspicious signs regarding the complete relocation of DAPA."
Councilor Lee stated, "According to the organizational restructuring plan announced by the Ministry of National Defense last month, there is a possibility that seven research and development-related departments under DAPA, including the Defense Technology Protection Bureau, as well as the Agency for Defense Development, could be transferred directly under the Ministry of National Defense." He expressed concern, saying, "If the restructuring proceeds as planned, four departments that were relocated to Daejeon in the first phase will be moved back to the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul, and three departments scheduled for the second phase will be excluded from the relocation, making the full relocation of DAPA impossible."
He continued, "If the functions related to research and development policy and planning are removed from DAPA, it is highly likely that only the departments responsible for weapons system procurement and supply will be relocated to Daejeon," adding, "From Daejeon's perspective, this would mean losing the opportunity to leverage its strengths as a hub for defense industry technology research and development."
Councilor Lee also pointed out concerns that some departments of the Cultural Heritage Administration, which are located in the Government Complex Daejeon, might be assigned to affiliated institutions in other cities.
He said, "As the Cultural Heritage Administration was reorganized into the National Heritage Administration, a new Intangible Heritage Bureau was established by integrating part of the National Intangible Heritage Center in Jeonju with the Intangible Heritage Policy Division, and the Intangible Heritage Policy Division, which was in the Government Complex Daejeon, has now moved to Jeonju."
Lee Hanyeong emphasized, "We need to actively respond not only to the subtle signs that the complete relocation of DAPA may be difficult but also to the transfer of departments and employees from the Government Complex Daejeon to other cities." He urged the seven National Assembly members representing Daejeon to take proactive measures, noting that the efforts of the city alone have their limits.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
