The province is again trying to establish a public corporation to manage the island’s public facilities. As Mike Balfour now reports, there are significant challenges to that plan.

Between 2012 and 2016, the accumulated deficit for managing 161 public facilities was recorded at 194.4 billion won.

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5-year deficit for public facility management tops ￦194b

Fixed costs, including personnel and structural maintenance are spent every year.

Workers at the facilities are not professional and the maintenance inefficient.

The deficit is snowballing over time.

To solve these issues, the province is again pushing forward to establish a public corporation.

Along with personnel restructuring, the provincial government this month is preparing to launch the corporation.

The province is planning to finish founding the office this October and start operation next year.

600 people are expected to work at the new office.

Public buses, public parking lots, landfill sites and waste incinerators, sorting sites for recyclables, (양지) Yangji Crematorium, (한울누리) Hanulnuri Cemetery, sewage treatment plants and seven ports including the Jeju Harbor are subject to the office’s management.

INTERVIEW
Kim Chang-se / Provincial government representative
We need to consult with the Ministry of Public Administration and Security on the matter and get approval from the deliberation committee. Then we could enact the proper ordinance, register the corporation, and establish it in October.
인터뷰)김창세 제주도 시설관리공단설립준비단장
행안부와 협의절차를 거치고 심의위원회에서 공단 설립하는 것을 승인해주면 조례를 제정하고 법인등기를 거쳐 10월에 설립되는 걸로...

But there are obstacles for the province to clear.

The corporate establishment plan should be approved by a deliberation committee of the Ministry of Public Administration and Security.

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Less-profitable facilities not included in plan

In the short term, only profitable public facilities would be placed under the management of the new organization in order to get Seoul’s approval.

Less profitable facilities are not immediately expected to be included in the province’s plan.

INTERVIEW
Gang Seong-min / Jeju Provincial Council member
The corporation is essential for the efficient management of the growing number of public facilities. While it should be profitable, it should also have no negative effect on the private sector.
인터뷰)강성민 제주도의회 의원
증가하는 공공시설에 대한 효율적 관리 측면에서 상당히 필요하지만 민간 경제를 위축시키지 않으면서 수익성을 확보하는 방향으로 추진돼야 할 것입니다.

Reviews and feasibility studies for such a corporation had been repeatedly done but until now no concrete action was taken.

[Reporter] Mike Balfour
[Camera] Kim Seung-cheol
[Graphics] Song Sang-yoon

The province is trying to make this year’s attempt successful.