"Safety Before Events"... Yeongam International Motor Racing Track Criticized for Poor Management

Assembly Member Okhyun Cho Expresses Regret Over Delay in Safety Reinforcement Project

Okhyun Cho, a member of the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly (Democratic Party of Korea, Mokpo 2), pointed out during the 2025 Administrative Affairs Audit for the Corporate City Office held on November 4 that the Yeongam Korea International Circuit (International Motor Racing Track) project has been delayed due to administrative procedure setbacks, and that performance management after privatization has been insufficient.

Assembly member Cho stated, "It is difficult to accept that the safety reinforcement project planned for this year at the racetrack, which has become outdated after 15 years, was postponed due to 'delays in administrative procedures.' Even though the duration of these procedures was foreseeable, the reasons for the delay must be thoroughly reviewed."

Jo Okhyun, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member

He added, "If the safety reinforcement project is still stuck at the review stage and construction has not yet begun, the future procedures should be broken down by quarter and the implementation schedule should be made public. The principle that safety comes before events must be firmly established throughout all administrative processes."

He also raised issues regarding the management system of the racetrack, which was operated under private consignment for the first time this year. Assembly member Cho noted, "While it is positive that the revenue structure has improved since the private consignment, there are no objective criteria for evaluating operational performance."

He continued, "Key performance indicators must be clearly reflected in the private consignment contract, and aspects such as facility safety inspections and the economic impact on the local community should be managed numerically. If performance falls short of the standards, institutional measures such as restrictions on contract renewal or differential commission fees should be implemented."

Assembly member Cho emphasized, "The Yeongam racetrack is not just a sports facility but an important hub driving tourism and the regional economy in Jeonnam. I hope a transparent performance management system will be established to enhance both public interest and efficiency, ensuring operations that the residents can trust."

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