Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to the president, on the 1st raised concerns about the "exclusive operation" structure of the Namsan Cable Car business and ordered a full inspection of cable car operations nationwide. He said that while exercising an exclusive business right, the fee for using state-owned property is significantly lower than market rates. Going forward, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Korea Forest Service will jointly conduct a full inspection and draw up measures to improve standards such as license validity periods and fees for using national forests.
That afternoon at the presidential office, Chief of Staff Kang chaired a senior aides meeting and said, "Despite the surge in tourists thanks to the popularity of 'K-pop Demon Hunters,' complaints continue about the quality of service at Namsan Cable Car," adding, "The root of the problem lies in a preferential business license granted in 1961 that has been maintained for more than 60 years." He also said, "It does not accord with common sense that, while enjoying an exclusive business right that guarantees hundreds of billions of won in annual revenue, the fee for using state-owned property is not imposed at market rates."
According to Jeon Eun-su, deputy spokesperson for the presidential office, Kang also ordered improvements to the "fee assessment standards" for national forests and other areas beyond cable cars, and instructed the immediate removal of illegal facilities. Jeon said, "Although the standard period for using national forests is typically five years, approvals have effectively been granted without separate reviews, allowing long-term exclusive use," adding, "Namsan has been exclusive since 1961, and Seoraksan Mountain since 1971."
The issue of management and oversight regarding the "school sports sector violence situation" was also put on the agenda. Citing a recent series of allegations of assault with a weapon, sexual assault, and abuse in a middle school ssireum team, Kang said, "Our society can no longer leave unchecked the sports sector's violence problem that has repeated for decades." He said school violence committees effectively handed perpetrators a free pass on grounds such as "no intent" and "tolerable level."
Kang said, "It is serious that victimized students cannot trust their schools," and asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) to "establish a system to prevent exposure of victims' identities and ensure that investigations into violence and wrongdoing are conducted fairly." He also told the Ministry of Education and regional education offices, regarding school sports team violence cases, to ▲ make clear that schools bear comprehensive management responsibility and ▲ overhaul the system so oversight covers prevention, discipline, and follow-up measures.