Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon Faces Continued Criticism for Passive Attitude on Hosting Overseas Koreans Office

While Jeju residents are showing active efforts to attract the ‘Overseas Koreans Agency’ set to launch in June to support over 7.3 million overseas Koreans in more than 190 countries, Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon is showing a passive attitude, sparking controversy.

Although the Overseas Koreans Foundation, the predecessor of the Overseas Koreans Agency, is located in Seogwipo City, Jeju Island, Governor Oh’s remarks that it is more practical to give up the Overseas Koreans Agency and attract other institutions to Jeju have caused debate.

The "Overseas Korean Affairs Office Jeju Seogwipo Defense Pan-Citizen Movement Headquarters" is conducting a head-shaving ceremony at the rally they hosted.

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At a press briefing held on the 31st of last month, Governor Oh stated, “It is necessary to examine the background and purpose of establishing the Overseas Koreans Agency and consider what alternatives we can gain if the agency is located elsewhere,” adding, “I believe it is appropriate for Korea Airports Corporation to come to Jeju as the first priority, and Korea Racing Authority as the second priority.”

In response, there are criticisms questioning whether a leader from the opposition party can secure anything while failing to properly maintain institutions already in Jeju.

Jang Sung-chul, former head of the People Power Party’s Jeju Provincial Party Committee, issued an urgent commentary on the 1st, saying, “Governor Oh’s claim that another region is better than Jeju based on the background and purpose of establishing the Overseas Koreans Agency can be interpreted as such,” and added, “Considering Jeju’s geopolitical location, as well as its status as an Island of Peace and an International Free City, Jeju is the optimal location for the Overseas Koreans Agency.”

He continued, “Is there any provincial governor who gives up a public institution in their region to attract another public institution?” and strongly criticized Governor Oh by saying, “The possibility of attracting a new public institution by a leader from a different party than the government is low.”

Meanwhile, the enthusiasm of Jeju residents for attracting the Overseas Koreans Agency appears to be intensifying.

The ‘Jeju Seogwipo Defense Movement Headquarters for the Overseas Koreans Agency,’ launched on the 21st of last month, even held a head-shaving ceremony at a rally to defend the agency.

They also demanded that National Assembly member Wi Seong-gon disclose the reasons for attempting to abolish the Overseas Koreans Foundation without holding a single public hearing and ignoring the will of Jeju residents, as well as the information of the six lawmakers who signed the agreement.

A representative of the group emphasized, “Since the Overseas Koreans Foundation currently exists in Seogwipo, there is no justification for other local governments to take it away,” and added, “Jeju is an international free city with visa-free entry, making it highly accessible and convenient for overseas Koreans.”

Meanwhile, the Overseas Koreans Agency was confirmed on February 27 when the amendment to the Government Organization Act, which integrates the business functions of related ministries and the Overseas Koreans Foundation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, passed the National Assembly plenary session.

Jeju = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won baekok@asiae.co.kr

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