Seo Won, Nonsan City Council Member, Points Out Favoritism and Lack of Transparency for Certain Companies Through Social Media
"Farmers Are Not Even Guaranteed the Right to Choose"
Seo Won, a member of the Nonsan City Council in South Chungcheong Province, criticized local agricultural subsidy projects, stating that "under the pretext of helping farmers, these projects are becoming a 'golden field' for the planners."
On July 7, through his social media account, Seo pointed out, "While farmers sweat in fields that do not even receive fertilizer, those in power and business operators reap the rewards."
Seo's remarks are interpreted as a criticism of the 'Horticultural Specialty Regional Customized Project' promoted by Nonsan City.
This project is supported by the South Chungcheong Provincial Council, and last year a budget of 1.36 billion won was allocated, including provincial funds from South Chungcheong.
Nonsan City announced that the project aimed to support local farms by preventing continuous cropping obstacles and promoting plant growth. However, suspicions have been raised that the project was designed to favor certain companies during its implementation, and police are currently investigating.
Seo stated, "In many cases, which company will supply the goods and which products will be included are all predetermined," adding, "Private contracts, customized standards, and performance evaluations without verification make this possible."
He continued, "Farmers are forced to buy unnecessary products at high prices and are not even guaranteed the right to choose," emphasizing, "All costs are paid with taxpayers' money, and the victims are hundreds or thousands of farmers." He asserted that the profits are monopolized by "a handful of those in power and business operators."
He further criticized, "Is this really 'support,' or is it a self-serving show orchestrated by those controlling public funds?"
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