Government Complex Sejong, Building 5, home to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, in Sejong City. [Photo by Yoo Dae-gil, dbeorlf123@ajunews.com]
South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said April 27 that a survey found about 95% of NongHyup members and the general public agree reforms are needed, with the most common reason being the need to eradicate misconduct by executives, including the chairman and cooperative heads.
The ministry said 94.5% of cooperative members and 95.1% of the public supported the need for reform, according to an “awareness survey of members and the general public” on reform measures. The Korea Rural Economic Institute commissioned Gallup Korea to poll 1,079 NongHyup cooperative members nationwide and 1,000 members of the public.
Asked why reform is needed, respondents most often cited misconduct by executives such as the chairman and cooperative heads (55.1% of members; 73% of the public). Other leading reasons were an operating structure centered on cooperative heads rather than members (49.4% of members; 47.3% of the public) and problems involving agricultural product distribution and price stabilization (49.4% of members; 54.5% of the public).
Support was also high for shifting to direct elections by members for the NongHyup chairman, with 83.1% of members and 90.5% of the public in favor. The main reasons cited were strengthening member sovereignty and democratic governance (66.3% of members; 65.6% of the public) and reducing the risk of corruption such as the provision of money or gifts (48.2% of members; 59.5% of the public).
On establishing a NongHyup Audit Committee, support outweighed opposition among both groups (85.8% of members; 93.3% of the public). A key reason was that a separate audit body could conduct fair audits without internal pressure (79.4% of members; 68.6% of the public). Among opponents, a leading concern was increased government influence (70.6% of members; 53.7% of the public).
The survey also found support for creating new government oversight authority over NongHyup’s holding company and subsidiaries (67.5% of members; 85% of the public). Strengthening members’ ability to request information disclosure from cooperatives was backed by 68.9% of members and 79.7% of the public.
Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryeong said the results show reform is a shared priority for most members and the public. “We will promptly prepare follow-up reform measures, including revitalizing economic projects and scaling up cooperatives, so that NongHyup can restore its core role,” she said.
The ministry said 94.5% of cooperative members and 95.1% of the public supported the need for reform, according to an “awareness survey of members and the general public” on reform measures. The Korea Rural Economic Institute commissioned Gallup Korea to poll 1,079 NongHyup cooperative members nationwide and 1,000 members of the public.
Asked why reform is needed, respondents most often cited misconduct by executives such as the chairman and cooperative heads (55.1% of members; 73% of the public). Other leading reasons were an operating structure centered on cooperative heads rather than members (49.4% of members; 47.3% of the public) and problems involving agricultural product distribution and price stabilization (49.4% of members; 54.5% of the public).
Support was also high for shifting to direct elections by members for the NongHyup chairman, with 83.1% of members and 90.5% of the public in favor. The main reasons cited were strengthening member sovereignty and democratic governance (66.3% of members; 65.6% of the public) and reducing the risk of corruption such as the provision of money or gifts (48.2% of members; 59.5% of the public).
On establishing a NongHyup Audit Committee, support outweighed opposition among both groups (85.8% of members; 93.3% of the public). A key reason was that a separate audit body could conduct fair audits without internal pressure (79.4% of members; 68.6% of the public). Among opponents, a leading concern was increased government influence (70.6% of members; 53.7% of the public).
The survey also found support for creating new government oversight authority over NongHyup’s holding company and subsidiaries (67.5% of members; 85% of the public). Strengthening members’ ability to request information disclosure from cooperatives was backed by 68.9% of members and 79.7% of the public.
Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryeong said the results show reform is a shared priority for most members and the public. “We will promptly prepare follow-up reform measures, including revitalizing economic projects and scaling up cooperatives, so that NongHyup can restore its core role,” she said.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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