[2021 National Audit] "NIA Digital Learning Centers, 7 Locations Only in Busan Jung-gu... Only 1 in Yongin"

Assemblywoman Yang Jeong-suk Points Out at National Audit
Rubber Band Application of Selection Criteria Varies by Local Government

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] The ‘Digital Learning Center’ support project, implemented by the National Information Society Agency (NIA) since last year to ensure that all citizens do not experience inconvenience in digital environments related to daily life such as mobile usage, has shown significant disparities among local governments.

According to data submitted by NIA to Yang Jeong-sook, a member of the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee (Independent), Jung-gu, Busan, with a population of about 40,000, installed as many as seven learning centers, whereas Yongin City, with a population exceeding one million, had only one learning center.

In Jung-gu, Busan, the potential user population per learning center was 5,936, but in Yongin City, with a population over one million, only one learning center was available, resulting in a numerical difference of 181 times. Nationwide, there were five local governments where the potential user population per learning center exceeded 400,000, and twelve where it was less than 10,000.

Jung-gu and Dong-gu in Busan, Muju in Jeonbuk, Jeongseon in Gangwon, Goesan and Danyang in Chungbuk, Yecheon, Uljin, Yeongyang, and Ulleung in Gyeongbuk, Goseong in Gyeongnam, and Sunchang-gun in Jeonbuk had fewer than 10,000 potential users per learning center. However, Yongin City in Gyeonggi Province had over 1 million, Seongnam City 930,000, Hwaseong City over 850,000, and Pyeongtaek City and Paju City also exceeded 400,000. All are major cities located in Gyeonggi Province.

This phenomenon occurred because NIA, the project executing agency, did not adhere to the selection criteria for learning centers. NIA established selection criteria by combining factors such as ‘40% population ratio per local government,’ ‘30% elderly population ratio,’ and ‘30% reverse order of local fiscal independence.’

However, when distributing learning centers by local government, flexible criteria were applied depending on the local government’s willingness and demand. If the selection criteria were applied to Gyeonggi Province, 179 learning centers should have been allocated, but only 134 were actually assigned. Meanwhile, Busan City’s standard allocation was only 65, but due to local government willingness, 54 additional centers were assigned, totaling 119.

Government budgets also varied by local government. According to the selection criteria, Gyeonggi Province should have received the largest government budget, but Seoul City actually received more funding. Busan, with nearly one-third the selection target compared to Gyeonggi Province, received a budget similar in scale to Gyeonggi.

Assembly member Yang Jeong-sook stated, “As the digital environment rapidly changes, it is a reality that elderly and vulnerable people find it difficult not only to order delivery via mobile but also to use stores equipped with kiosks,” adding, “Since the Digital Learning Center project is a universal welfare education for all citizens, the allocation of learning centers should be selected according to principles and criteria so that all citizens can benefit evenly.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.