The Planning and Economy Committee of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council (Chairperson Lee Sunhee) conducted the 2025 administrative work audit at the Gyeongbuk Technopark (Gyeongbuk TP) conference room in Gyeongsan City on November 11.
During this audit, the committee conducted an in-depth review of overall institutional operations, including strengthening Gyeongbuk Technopark’s internal audit function, efficient organizational restructuring, measures to promote youth entrepreneurship, improvement of equipment utilization, the issue of leasing land from Yeungnam University, and securing operational independence.
Committee member Kim Changhyuk (Gumi) criticized the exclusion of Gyeongbuk’s core industries-semiconductors, defense, and nuclear power-from the central government’s “5 Poles 3 Special” strategy, calling it a clear failure. He reproached the provincial government for not adequately proposing and negotiating Gyeongbuk’s key industrial policies with the central government. He also commented on Technopark taking on large-scale commissioned projects, such as the designation of Gyeongbuk’s Small Manufacturers Regional Agency, stating, “The essence of Technopark lies in technological advancement and startup support. Each institution should focus on projects that match their strengths by clarifying their respective roles to maximize efficiency and outcomes.”
Committee member Kim Honggu (Sangju) pointed out that Gyeongbuk’s future strategic projects are concentrated in specific regions, with some cities and counties entirely excluded from related programs. He called for balanced development measures to ensure all 22 cities and counties can grow evenly.
Proportional representative Sunha Park noted, “The institution is now operating mainly through commissioned projects, which has distanced it from its original purpose of building networks among industry, academia, research, and local governments.” Regarding strengthening the audit function, she stressed, “Merely elevating the audit office to headquarters level is insufficient. A full-time auditor should be introduced by amending the articles of incorporation to match the scale of the institution.” She also highlighted, “Management insolvency is severe, with a net loss reaching 5 billion won,” and called for more efficient fund management, even in detailed areas such as competition among banks for deposits.
Committee member Lee Chilgu (Pohang) pointed out that despite investing several hundred billion won from provincial and national funds, some areas such as Gimcheon and Yeongcheon have equipment operation rates below 50 percent due to outdated equipment and staff shortages. He urged the utilization of idle spaces for business activities and the development of measures to improve equipment utilization. Regarding smart factories, he advised that “the project should not end with equipment installation; training programs for professional personnel at companies using the equipment should be promoted in parallel.”
Committee member Lim Byungha (Yeongju) stated that demands to strengthen the audit function have not been properly implemented, citing lenient handling of disciplinary cases, audit staff shortages, and accounting deficiencies. He also noted that 120 million won was spent on an organizational diagnosis study, but the results were not significantly different from before, and he called for practical organizational restructuring to enhance professionalism and efficiency.
Committee member Choi Taerim (Uiseong) emphasized that despite criticism of the director’s leadership last year, issues with staff attendance management and accounting persist. He stressed that the organization must overcome the absence of leadership by boosting morale. He also pointed out that the number of policy planning projects has decreased every year, urging the institution to focus not only on project execution but also on strengthening policy development functions.
Proportional representative Hwang Myunggang urged normalization of the Human Rights Management Committee, noting the low proportion of external members and irregular meetings. Regarding the high employee turnover rate, he pointed out the poor residential environment for researchers and called for improvements in living conditions, such as providing housing subsidies. He also noted that due to increased automobile tariffs, the auto parts industry is facing difficulties, and urged the Future Mobility Headquarters in Gyeongju to proactively respond to the paradigm shift in the future vehicle industry and find breakthroughs.
Vice Chairperson Son Heekwon (Pohang) pointed out that although the institution maintains a grade 2 integrity rating, some employees continue to engage in misconduct, such as misuse of business travel expenses and failure to implement audit recommendations. He strongly criticized the fact that “disciplinary standards are more lenient than for public officials, and system improvements are difficult without union consent,” calling this unfair and a serious violation of Ministry of the Interior and Safety guidelines, as well as a significant breach of public institution accountability and trust. Regarding the issue of leasing land from Yeungnam University, he pointed out, “Yeungnam University unilaterally broke its commitment to provide land free of charge, and Technopark is now even paying property taxes. Yet, the president of Yeungnam University participates in negotiations as Technopark’s co-chair, which is highly contradictory.” He called for securing independence through amendments to the articles of incorporation and urged a multifaceted approach to resolving the issue.
Chairperson Lee Sunhee (Cheongdo) expressed concern that as Gyeongbuk Technopark expands its commissioned projects, the number of subcontracts is increasing, which could reduce project effectiveness and weaken accountability. She inquired about the existence of prior approval procedures and regulations on the ratio and scope of subcontracts by the provincial government. She emphasized the need to establish clear subcontracting standards and prevent repeated unfair private contracts by enacting subcontract management guidelines and implementing monitoring systems. She also pointed out that among the 13 funds (totaling 414.5 billion won) operated by Gyeongbuk TP, 8 are in the recovery phase and 5 are in the investment phase, yet detailed performance analysis is lacking. Specifically, she noted that for the “Enlight No. 3 Fund,” even after five years since its establishment, specific data such as the amount recovered compared to the investment and the growth status of supported companies have not been presented. She added that it is urgent to secure professional personnel for effective fund management and performance analysis.
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