Issues Raised in the Contractor Selection Process for Jeonnam Education Media Center Remodeling Project

On the 4th, Assemblyman Lee Hyuk-je intensely questioned the Education Research Information Center's Education Media Center project during the administrative audit of the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education. Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Council

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] Allegations have been raised that there were issues in the selection process of contractors during the contract for the Education Media Center project promoted by the Education Research Information Institute, an agency directly under the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education.

On the 4th, at the administrative audit of the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education’s direct agencies, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly member Lee Hyuk-je stated, “There is no legal defect in the Education Research Information Institute’s direct contract with Company A, an electrical specialist company,” but added, “However, there have been reports that Company A, as an electrical specialist, lacks practical design capabilities. It was revealed that Company A did not design the broadcasting equipment themselves but entrusted the design to Company B, a partner company.”

He continued, “Recently, KBS requested to purchase products with the same specifications as those required by the Media Center, and I understand they purchased four units at 220 million KRW each,” adding, “However, looking at the Education Media Center’s design, it is listed that the purchase could be made for 450 million KRW, which is a difference of 180 million KRW. This is the reason the center’s staff blocked it,” he emphasized.

Director Lee Myung-sook responded, “I am aware that suspicions have been raised regarding the design company,” and said, “We plan to request a follow-up investigation to determine whether the selection of the design service provider and the project implementation were appropriate.”

The Education Media Center staff stated, “The General Affairs Department of the Education Research Information Institute initially contracted with Company A, which lacks practical capabilities,” and claimed, “Company A did not know how to design directly and entrusted it to Company B, but Company B submitted an inflated design price, saying that UHD design was impossible with the 800 million KRW budget proposed by the General Affairs Department and only HD was possible.”

On the other hand, a representative of Company A rebutted, “We never entrusted the design to Company B but to an expert we personally know,” and said, “Due to time constraints, our company is responsible for electrical, communication, and fire-fighting work, and other construction work will be commissioned to other companies, which was already coordinated in advance with the Education Research Information Institute. Despite there being no procedural issues, the staff keeps finding faults with the design.”

Assembly member Lee said, “I will look into the selection of the broadcasting equipment design company in more detail and ask questions again at the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education administrative audit on the 10th.”

Education Committee Chairman Yoo Sung-soo also pointed out, “The first step was wrong. It is necessary to thoroughly review the broadcasting equipment design issue and examine whether it aligns with the purpose and essence.”

Meanwhile, the Education Media Center improvement project was scheduled to be completed by the end of September, with a total budget of 990 million KRW invested by the Provincial Office of Education, including 550 million KRW from the original budget and 440 million KRW from supplementary budget, for studio reconfiguration and replacement of outdated equipment.

However, it is reported that the project has been delayed for more than three months due to conflicting opinions between the broadcasting design company, which says only HD can be introduced within the Information Institute’s budget, and the Education Media Center staff, who claim UHD is sufficiently feasible, regarding the broadcasting equipment design issue.

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