“Standards for media advertising execution must be established”… Jeonbuk Provincial Spokesperson’s Office criticized

The Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Planning and Administration Committee pointed out on the 11th during an administrative audit of the Jeonbuk Provincial Spokesperson’s Office that standards for executing media advertising expenses should be established.

Former North Jeolla Province Councilor Lee Su-jin (proportional representation) belonging to the Planning and Administration Committee opened fire on the provincial spokesperson’s office by saying, “From 2019 to last year, they did not establish an annual advertising plan even once,” and “This year’s advertising plan (which was established for the first time) is only an execution plan and there is no (detailed) plan for the big picture for the year.”

The council member added, “The Audit Committee’s point is that the annual plan for this year was established negligently by simply considering the previous year’s performance without any analysis or strategy for the promotional media.”

In addition, he emphasized, “Although (the spokesperson’s office) said that they executed advertising expenses by considering the subscription and readership rates of each media outlet, they paid without regard to these internal standards,” and “A certain degree of discretion of the spokesperson can be acknowledged, but it must be supported by evidence.”

Spokesperson Lim Cheong responded, “I took office as spokesperson in November of last year,” and “From now on, I will listen to the opinions of external experts, create a detailed advertising plan, and report back to you.”

He explained, “(When I took office last year) there were limitations to completely turning the existing board upside down and creating a new one.”

There were also orders to drastically reduce unnecessary advertising budgets.

Commissioner Choi Hyeong-yeol (Jeonju 5) pointed out, “The provincial government’s advertising budget has doubled this year compared to 2020,” and “The population of the province is decreasing due to more people moving out than moving in, and the province’s residents are struggling with decreasing wages and an economic downturn. Isn’t it true that they are ignoring these issues and focusing only on promoting the provincial government?”

He continued, “When establishing next year’s budget, please boldly organize unnecessary budgets and establish a plan (for the citizens’ right to know).”

In addition, Assemblywoman Kim Myeong-ji (Jeonju 11) mentioned the illegal acts and bullying in the process of executing advertising expenses for the spokesperson’s office revealed by the provincial audit committee, emphasizing that “the former spokesperson who caused the controversy is currently the head of a provincial-affiliated organization,” and that “we should not just enjoy the authority that comes with rank and position, but also clearly define responsibility and respond sternly and thoroughly.”

Source: Yonhap News