[Exclusive] "Priority purchase request" to affiliated organizations... Is it a government task?

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Our coverage confirmed that government-affiliated organizations plan to purchase some of the works that appeared in the first exhibition since the opening of the Blue House.

The government explained that it was a request for cooperation, not an obligation, but it may violate rules or procedures.

Correspondent Jang Min-seong was the sole reporter.

<Reporter Min-seong Jang> This

is a special exhibition for disabled artists held at the Blue House Spring and Autumn Hall.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that more than 70,000 people watched it for 20 days from the 31st of last month, and evaluated it as "the first event to feel the Blue House returning to the arms of the people and an opportunity to raise public awareness about the activities of disabled artists."

“President Yoon also made a surprise visit to reaffirm his will to support disabled artists,” and “25 of the 60 exhibited works were sold.”

However, as a result of SBS coverage, it was confirmed that 8 of the 25 items sold belonged to agencies affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

This is an official letter sent by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to 53 organizations on the 17th of last month.

Under the title of 'Request for Priority Purchase Cooperation', along with the substantive clause stating that it is a state task and a presidential directive, we requested that you cooperate in the preferential purchase of creative works by disabled artists, and also requested to submit quarterly preferential purchase results and plans.

Among the institutions that received the official notice, the National Sports Promotion Agency was 3 points 7 million won, the Korea Tourism Organization 2 points 5.3 million won, the Korea Creative Content Agency 1 point 1 million won, the Korea Culture and Arts Education Promotion Agency 1 point 1 million won, the Korea Culture and Arts Committee decided to purchase a work of 2 million won per point under the personal name of the chairperson.

All of the purchasing agencies have not purchased any artwork, including works by disabled artists, in the past five years.

[Lim Jong-seong / Democratic Party Member: The fact that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism sent an official letter before the exhibition was actually a strong sale for the performance of the Blue House opening…

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The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said, "It was meant to be a request for participation in the promotion of a national project, and it was a request for cooperation, not an obligation."

(Video coverage: Yang Doo-won, Kim Nam-seong, Video editing: Kim Kyung-won, CG: Ban So-hee)

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Reporter Yoo Su-hwan, who covered this content, is here.

[Reporter Yoo Su-hwan: Yes, that's right.

The National Library for the Disabled.

First, let's listen to the story of the head of the library.]

[Won Jong-pil / Director of the National Library for the Disabled: Even if you pay only 100,000 won or spend 10,000 won, you have no choice but to use it in accordance with the accounting regulations...

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[Reporter Suhwan Yoo: According to the enforcement ordinance of the Government Goods Management Act, government agencies are required to go through a place called the Government Art Bank in the case of artworks exceeding 500,000 won.

So, no matter how good the intention, the National Library for the Disabled, a government institution, could not directly purchase art.]

[Reporter Suhwan Yoo: These institutions are 'public institutions', not government institutions.

As it is not directly subject to this enforcement ordinance, the use of the budget is a little more liberal.

Nevertheless, there is a risk of violating the guidelines.

We looked up the 'Guidelines for Budget Management of Public Institutions' in the Ministry of Strategy and Finance.

Unless otherwise stipulated, it is written that public institutions follow the budget execution guidelines of government institutions in principle.

However, in the case of the Sports Promotion Corporation, which purchased three or more of these paintings, they said they did not know these guidelines at all.]

[National Sports Promotion Corporation official: (We) are affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

I heard that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has a policy to revitalize disabled artists, and there have been documents like that.]

[Reporter Yoo Su-hwan: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that it was only sending a request for cooperation to purchase creative works of disabled artists first in order to promote a national task in accordance with the 'Amendment to Support for Disabled Artists' passed at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 7th.

However, the problem is that this law will not come into effect until March next year at the earliest.

In other words, it is the logic that the law that has not yet been implemented was reflected first.

It is true that the government and public institutions should be encouraged to purchase the works of disabled artists.

However, in situations where the potential for violation of these procedures and regulations remains, the intent is highly likely to be undermined.]