(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Seong Do-hyeon = Rep. Hong Ki-won of the Democratic Party of Korea, the ruling party secretary of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, disclosed for the first time the merger plan of the Korea-Africa Foundation and the Korea Foundation (KF) being promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the comprehensive audit of government affairs on the 27th, and strongly urged the foundation to remain independent.
In accordance with the government's policy to reform the functions of public institutions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the first meeting of the 'KF-Korea-Africa Foundation Integration Task Force (TF)' on the 8th and has been proceeding with the integration process, including discussing law revisions and schedules for follow-up working-level consultations.
In this situation, the specific integration plan established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was made public for the first time through a National Assembly inspection inquiry.
According to the integration plan announced by Representative Hong, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pursuing a plan to abolish the status of the Korea-Africa Foundation as an independent corporation and reduce it to the 'Korea-Africa Center' under KF.
The core of the integration plan is to reduce the three executives of the Korea-Africa Foundation, including the chairman, full-time director, and auditor, to one center director, and reduce the system of four department heads, including the head of the management support office, the head of the exchange and cooperation department, the head of the education and public relations department, and the head of the research and research department, to three, and place them as centers under KF.
Rep. Hong raised his voice, saying, “The Korea-Africa Foundation was created after legislative efforts through an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties at the 20th National Assembly because African diplomacy was important.” He added, “Can the government abolish it without any relationship with the National Assembly? That should not be done.”
In particular, he criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying, "The Ministry of Finance and Economy's original draft evaluation of the contribution project was 'abolition and integration,' but in the final evaluation, it was changed to 'project improvement' in recognition of the need for preservation," and criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for trying to force the integration with KF.
Representative Hong also pointed out, “Considering the external symbolism of the name itself and the importance of diplomacy among the 54 African countries, we must allow them to work independently,” adding, “The African ambassadors to Korea are even preparing to issue a joint statement (opposing the merger).”
In response, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yeol said, “We will do our best (to preserve the foundation).”
Representative Kim Dae-sik of the People Power Party, the opposition party secretary who had previously asked questions, also took issue with the fact that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the first meeting of the integrated task force two days later despite strong opposing opinions from the ruling and opposition parties during the National Assembly inspection on the 6th.
Minister Cho replied, "I received the report later," and added, "I participated for now because it was a schedule that had been planned for a long time. We discussed with the relevant ministries by combining the opinions of the National Assembly and African ambassadors to Korea."
When Rep. Kim asked about his personal opinion on integration, Minister Cho emphasized, "As the only minister within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who has served in Africa twice, I have a special interest in Africa."
At the same time, he said, "Do public officials have personal opinions?" and refrained from saying anything, saying that it was an issue being discussed in line with the direction of the entire government.
When Rep. Kim asked about follow-up measures for the opposition to integration by the secretaries of the ruling and opposition foreign affairs committees, Minister Cho said, "I did not have the opportunity to make a suggestion directly to the President, but I submitted a related report to the National Security Office," and conveyed the opinion of the ruling and opposition parties to reconsider integration, including the opposition of the ruling and opposition parties, to the Blue House.
He added, "I not only uploaded a report, but also talked directly with the Director of the National Security Office," and added, "I believe that a review of this will be conducted soon."
Meanwhile, at the National Assembly inspection held on the 6th, the secretaries of the ruling and opposition parties argued that the foundation should be maintained considering the expertise and symbolism of diplomacy with Africa, and Minister Cho responded that he would recommend reconsideration to the President.
