BUSAN — The Busan Metropolitan Council has sharply expanded the scope of its personnel vetting for heads of the city's public agencies and is now beginning the process in earnest. The first target is Busan Techno Park, where the nominee's ability to steer regional industrial policy and win state research and development projects will come under close scrutiny.
The council's Planning and Finance Committee opened a confirmation hearing at 11 a.m. on the 29th for Shim Jae-woon, the nominee to head Busan Techno Park, according to the council. It is the first hearing held since the council voted at its previous extraordinary session to widen the list of agencies subject to confirmation hearings from seven to all 22 institutions funded or invested in by the Busan city government.
The overhaul also split the vetting process into two tracks based on the nature of each agency. A special committee on personnel hearings and the council's standing committees each screen nominees according to the areas they oversee. The Planning and Finance Committee plans to focus on Shim's capacity to perform as Techno Park president, including attracting national R&D projects and supporting regional industry. Shim previously served as head of the economic policy division at the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The hearings continue on the 30th, with Kim Hyun-joon, nominee for chairman of the Busan Credit Guarantee Foundation, and Hwang Sun-woong, nominee for president of the Busan Economic Promotion Agency. Hearings for Kim Tae-ho, nominee for president of Busan Transportation Corp., and Kim Myung-soo, nominee for chairman of Busan Facilities Management Corp., are set for Oct. 6.
At a plenary session the same day, the council passed a revised ordinance changing which departments fall under each standing committee, reflecting a reorganization of the city government. It also approved an amendment raising the cap on council advisory members to 60 from 50. The council additionally finalized the schedule and plan for its administrative audit, which will run for 14 days from Nov. 4 to 17.
