[2022 National Audit] "Suhyup, Fake Members Still Persist Ahead of Cooperative Head Simultaneous Elections"

[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] As the nationwide cooperative head simultaneous election approaches in March next year, it has been revealed on the 18th that the cleanup of unqualified members in the Fisheries Cooperatives (Suhyup) is sluggish.

According to the data on the 'Status of Unqualified Members in the Past 5 Years' submitted by Suhyup to So Byeonghun, a member of the Democratic Party and chairman of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Forestry, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee, the average annual number of unqualified members in Suhyup from 2018 to last month was 5,385.

By region, the numbers were Jeonnam (1,914), Jeju (831), Gyeongnam (786), Gyeongbuk (501), Chungnam (395), Gangwon (356), Gyeongin (337), Jeonbuk (192), Busan (61), and Seoul (12), in that order.

As of September this year, the number of unqualified members was 3,953 in total, with Jeonnam (1,213), Gyeongnam (606), Jeju (557), Gangwon (549), Chungnam (376), Gyeongin (219), Jeonbuk (213), Gyeongbuk (146), Busan (57), and Seoul (17).

The controversy over 'fake members' and other unqualified members is a recurring issue raised ahead of the nationwide cooperative head simultaneous elections, but So pointed out that even before the third election, countermeasures remain insufficient.

During the first nationwide cooperative head simultaneous election in 2015, the head of the Ulleung Fisheries Cooperative was sentenced to a fine with invalidation of election for allowing unqualified members to participate in voting, and in the second election, the head of the Goseong County Fisheries Cooperative in Gyeongnam was fined in the second trial for allegations of providing cash.

So said, "If unqualified members are only cleaned up right before the election, unforeseen damages may occur," adding, "Suhyup must thoroughly manage the entire process by systematically organizing members with priority given to fishermen to prevent unjust damages."

However, regarding this, Suhyup stated, "In reality, if the number of members decreases due to the cleanup of unqualified members, the foundation of Suhyup's existence could be weakened," and "In some cooperatives where capital erosion makes refunding of shares impossible, there is a passive aspect due to concerns about backlash and complaints from withdrawing members. Institutional improvements that can practically support the cleanup of unqualified members are required."

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