Kang Hoon-sik Orders Report on Improving Central-Local Cost Sharing for Regional Airports... Halts Indiscriminate Projects

Chief Presidential Secretary Chairs Senior Aides Meeting
Calls for Prompt Adoption of Policy Proposals Raised During National Assembly Audit
Fatalities Among Agricultural Workers Exceed Three Times All Industrial Accident Deaths... "Urgent Countermeasures Needed"
Public Discontent Over 'Revolving Door' Practices at Highway Rest Areas, Countermeasures Requested

On November 10, Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoon-sik convened a meeting of senior aides chaired by himself and instructed that policy proposals aimed at improving the quality of life for citizens and reducing budget expenditures, as identified during the recently concluded National Assembly audit, should be promptly adopted, according to Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong.

Yonhap News Agency

During the meeting, Chief Secretary Kang stressed that the government must take seriously the findings that the number of agricultural workers who died while working exceeds three times the total number of industrial accident fatalities, highlighting the urgent need for countermeasures. He also emphasized that the government must reflect deeply on the fact that, over the past five years, more than 140 new local government official residences have been established and over 100 billion won in taxpayer money has been spent.

Chief Secretary Kang also called for measures to address the persistent public dissatisfaction with highway rest areas. He pointed out that operators of highway rest areas, which function in a monopolistic environment with limited competition, are collecting high commissions averaging 40 percent, and that there are confirmed cases of so-called 'revolving door' practices, where former Korea Expressway Corporation employees become involved in the management of these rest areas.

Chief Secretary Kang emphasized, "We need to fundamentally overhaul the overall operational structure of highway rest areas, prioritizing the public interest, such as by significantly expanding the number of rest areas directly operated by public institutions under the Korea Expressway Corporation." He further requested, "Please work in coordination with relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Fair Trade Commission, to ensure that highway rest areas can become a new K-tourism product."

Chief Secretary Kang also put a brake on the indiscriminate promotion of local airports. Last year, 9 out of 14 local airports nationwide, excluding Incheon Airport, recorded deficits. He pointed out that, since the state is responsible for both the construction and operation of airports, such deficits must inevitably be covered by taxpayers' money, which can become a growing burden over time.

Chief Secretary Kang noted that "local governments enjoy the benefits of airport development but do not bear responsibility during the construction or operation process." He instructed that a plan for improving the cost-sharing structure between central and local governments should be reported so that the promotion of local airports is premised on the accountability of local governments. He also added that relevant ministries should collaborate to devise ways to improve the profitability of currently operating local airports.

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