Seosan Buseok Nonghyup Faces Backlash from Members over Frequent Overseas Benchmarking Trips

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A view of Buseok Agricultural Cooperative located in Chwipyeong-ri, Buseok-myeon, Seosan-si, Chungnam. /Seosan=Photo by Choi Byungmin

The Buseok Agricultural Cooperative, located in Buseok-myeon, Seosan-si, Chungnam, is facing backlash from its members due to frequent overseas benchmarking trips, leading to ongoing controversy.

During these trips, a large number of executives have participated in all the benchmarking visits conducted throughout the year, raising criticism that these trips are nothing more than "leisurely tours" disguised as benchmarking programs.

According to Buseok Agricultural Cooperative and its members on the 16th, the cooperative spent approximately 40 million KRW from its budget to send a total of 10 executives and staff (including the president, one managing director, one department head, six board members, and one auditor) to New Zealand for an 8-day, 7-night benchmarking trip from the 10th to the 17th of this month. They are scheduled to return soon.

Previously, from August 27 to 31, the cooperative also organized a 5-day, 4-night benchmarking trip to the Xi'an area in China for 20 outstanding cooperative members and staff.

Furthermore, from the 12th to the 22nd of last month, the cooperative divided 53 delegates and staff into two groups and sent them on two separate 4-day, 3-night trips to the Shanghai area in China, which were also criticized as tours disguised as benchmarking trips.

The main issue is that, during this process, the president?who is currently on trial for violating election laws?and several executives participated in all three overseas trips, using approximately 100 million KRW of cooperative funds without any personal contribution. This has led to strong criticism that the cooperative budget has become a private fund for certain executives.

One member (68) stated, "Even if the cooperative budget is perceived as easy money, it should not be managed as a private fund for a few executives. The cooperative should establish and implement business plans for domestic and overseas benchmarking trips in a more rational direction so that all members can understand and accept them."

Another member (58) raised his voice, saying, "The current president is on trial for violating election laws during the last cooperative president election. Despite this, the cooperative has pushed for three overseas tours disguised as benchmarking trips in a single year, which seems excessive."

A representative from Buseok Agricultural Cooperative responded, "It is true that this year we organized three benchmarking trips for outstanding members, delegates, and executives. Most executives participated two or three times. However, benchmarking trips have been conducted since the previous president's term and, after a general meeting resolution, it was implemented as a new project this year," indicating that they see no problem with the practice.

Asia Economy tried to contact the president for a statement regarding these criticisms, but only received the response, "Let's talk after I return to Korea."