The Korean Teachers' Credit Union (The-K) and the Public Officials Benefit Association (POBA) delegates said on the 6th that they adopted an official resolution opposing the government's push for the second-phase transfer of public institutions to regional areas.
This resolution reflects the will of members, not employees, of each mutual aid association. The Korean Teachers' Credit Union is composed of about 1 million members, and the Public Officials Benefit Association is composed of about 400,000 members. As the delegates are the highest decision-making body representing these members, the members' representative body formally expressed its position on the regional transfer.
They stressed that the mutual aid associations are not institutions operated with the state budget or contributions. Because they manage assets formed with members' contributions, they differ in nature from public institutions. Their position is that the transfer of the headquarters must reflect the members' voluntary will.
Through the resolution, the two associations' delegates demanded respect for the autonomy of institutions owned by members and pointed out issues related to the operating environment and transfer expenses.
A delegate of one association said, "The government must take seriously the resolution of the delegates representing 1.4 million members and immediately halt the unilateral transfer push," adding, "Within the bounds of respecting institutional autonomy and the stable management of the fund, it should prepare a reasonable alternative that can contribute to balanced national development."
An association official said, "The significance of this resolution is very great in that it confirms the official will not merely of employees but of the 1.4 million members who are the actual owners of the associations," adding, "Given that the associations are run with members' assets, not government budgets, a unilateral relocation to regional areas without members' consent will struggle to gain legitimacy."
The two associations' delegates sent the resolution opposing regional relocation to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and said they will soon deliver it to the presidential office.