At the comprehensive parliamentary audit of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), the need to integrate Onnuri Gift Certificates and Local Love Gift Certificates (local currency) was raised. It was also mentioned that a corporations that leaked the personal information of 1.6 million people and received a penalty surcharge was selected as an MSS "Baby Unicorn."
At the MSS comprehensive audit by the National Assembly's Trade. Industry Energy. SMEs. and Startups Committee on the 29th, lawmaker Oh Se-hee of the Democratic Party of Korea said, "Onnuri Gift Certificates are run by the central government and Local Love Gift Certificates by local governments. The discount rates differ and consumers are confused," adding, "From a policy efficiency standpoint, many are saying we need to study ways to integrate the two gift certificates."
The point is that officials should consider ways to reduce administrative inefficiency caused by illicit distribution of Onnuri Gift Certificates and operational disparities among local governments. Oh said, "When the two are merged and integrated, the incentives given to traditional markets must be maintained," and added, "There also needs to be an inter-ministerial joint feasibility study service on integrated operation of the gift certificates."
Lawmaker Lee Cheol-gyu of the People Power Party also said, "The only difference (between the two gift certificates) is whether they can be used nationwide by type and size of business district or based on administrative boundaries," adding, "The two gift certificates should be integrated and operated together."
Minister Han Seong-sook of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) answered, "Both gift certificates have their own distinct uses." She added, "This is a complex issue with clear pros and cons," and said, "We will conduct a research service on what the National Assembly pointed out or consult with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on possible measures."
The selection process for the MSS "Baby Unicorns" also came under scrutiny. The Baby Unicorn cultivation program discovers promising venture corporations that grow based on sales and revenue and supports their growth into "Venture Thousand-Billion Corporations."
However, the hobby development platform "Class U" was selected for an MSS program even though it was fined a 53.6 million won penalty surcharge by the Personal Information Protection Commission in Apr. this year for a personal information leak.
Class U is known to have leaked the personal information of 1.6 million members, including names, passwords, mobile phone numbers, emails, addresses, and dates of birth. Bank account numbers of 1,370 people, resident registration numbers of 436 people, copies of resident registration cards of 292 people, and copies of driver's licenses of 257 people were also reportedly leaked.
Lawmaker Park Sang-woong of the People Power Party said, "On the 15th of last month, the MSS selected an illegal firm that committed a personal information leak as a Baby Unicorn support beneficiary," adding, "Why is this corporations enjoying benefits without any sanctions, spreading not only moral insensitivity but also insensitivity to illegality?"
He added, "This is not something to simply gloss over, but can be seen as negligence in management responsibility and a failure in policy management. Report who is responsible."
Minister Han said, "We reviewed the reputation and risks of the corporations," and answered, "We will identify and investigate on what basis the Commissioners made this judgment and report the results."