Daegu City Council Member Hajung Hwan Urges Foundation for Arts and Culture to Prevent Internal Factionalism and Favoritism

Issues Raised During Administrative Audit
"Frequent Overseas Business Trips" Highlighted

The Culture and Welfare Committee of the Daegu City Council (Chairman Park Changseok) urged the Daegu Foundation for Arts and Culture on the 17th to take responsible action regarding various issues revealed during the organizational integration process. The committee also called for fundamental improvements in overall organizational management, along with measures to prevent recurrence.

Chairman Park Changseok (Gunwi County) criticized the lack of collaboration or synergy following the organizational integration, pointing out that large-scale restructuring had undermined the independence and creativity of individual units. He emphasized the need to promptly establish fundamental reform measures through an organizational review. He also demanded a thorough investigation into overseas business trips, specifically into trips unrelated to their stated purpose and excessive travel schedules, to ensure such issues do not recur.

Hajung Hwan, Daegu City Council Member

Committee member Lee Jaesook (Dong-gu 4) stressed the need for a systematic strategy to increase visitors to the Daegu Art Museum. She called for a review of the procedures for verifying the authenticity of the museum's collection and requested the expansion of exhibitions and educational programs that actively utilize these collections. She also urged the development of ways to create synergy by linking with the Daegu Kansong Art Museum, which has recently attracted significant public interest, in order to expand cultural opportunities for citizens.

Committee member Hajung Hwan (Dalseong-gun 1) pointed out that the former director of the Daegu Foundation for Arts and Culture abused personnel authority and that a distorted personnel structure centered on certain executives had severely damaged organizational trust and fairness. He called for fundamental reforms to eliminate internal factionalism and favoritism. He also highlighted the recurring issue of inadequate management of dual positions and external activities within the Daegu City Arts Group, urging fundamental improvements in management and measures to prevent recurrence.

Committee member Jeong Ilgyun (Suseong-gu 1) stated that repeated criticisms regarding personnel and organizational issues at the Daegu Foundation for Arts and Culture were the result of negligent management. He called for a fundamental overhaul of the entire organizational system, not just specific issues. He also pointed out frequent overseas business trips, unclear trip objectives, and excessive schedules and budget execution compared to actual outcomes, urging stricter review of overseas trips and thorough evaluation of their achievements and results.

Committee member Kim Jaewoo (Dong-gu 1) pointed out that despite the recent K-pop boom and the increase in Hallyu tourism, Daegu's recovery of foreign tourists has been slower than in other cities. He called for a proactive response to attract more international tourists. In particular, he emphasized the need for swift action to achieve tangible results in response to significant changes in the domestic tourism market following the visa-free entry of Chinese group tourists.

Committee member Ha Byeongmun (Buk-gu 4) highlighted the need for a fundamental overhaul of the internal personnel system, including the operation of the personnel committee at the Daegu Foundation for Arts and Culture. He emphasized that comprehensive problems, such as recruitment without clear criteria during internal hiring processes, have been recurring. He called for the prompt development of fundamental reform measures for the entire organization through an innovation advisory group.

Committee member Kim Jubeom (Dalseo-gu 6) pointed out that, following the audit results of the Daegu Foundation for Arts and Culture, actions were taken only against working-level staff without holding those responsible accountable. He urged for clear identification of responsibility. He also mentioned the foundation's insufficient track record in securing national funding projects and requested a more active role in supporting local artists.