National Economic Advisory Council Concludes Most Research Projects Through Sole-Source Contracts

[Suwon Ilbo=Seo Dong-young] The National Economic Advisory Council is drawing scrutiny over research objectivity and quality concerns as it has been found to be concluding most external research projects through sole-source contracts.

According to "Status of External Research Reports Contracted by the National Economic Advisory Council," submitted to Rep. Kim Young-jin (Democratic Party·Suwon District B) of the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee, of 26 research projects since 2017, including "Survey of Major Global Think Tank Status and Development of Cooperation Issues," 25 projects were concluded through sole-source contracts.

The National Economic Advisory Council contracted 27 research projects with a total budget of 733 million won since the Moon Jae-in administration's launch. Among these, the only project awarded through competitive bidding was "Research on Human-Centered Enterprise Policy for Innovative Growth," which Seogang University's Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation contracted for 55 million won.

The highest-value sole-source contracted external research project was "Survey of Major Countries' Economic Advisory Bodies and Cooperation Plans," concluded with the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy for 45 million won. Next were 13 projects valued at 30 million won each, including "Survey of Working Hours Reduction Practices and Development Plans," contracted with the Korea Employment and Labor Relations Association.

The organization that performed the most research projects was the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, which sole-source contracted four research projects.

Meanwhile, two projects, including "Analysis and Response Measures for Population Structure Changes such as Increasing Retirees and Declining School-Age Population," which the Korea Employment and Welfare Pension Research Institute contracted for 53 million won, were concluded through sole-source contracts after competitive bidding failed to materialize.

Rep. Kim Young-jin pointed out, "The advisory council should refrain from sole-source contracts even when unavoidable circumstances exist and should pursue competitive bidding to ensure research objectivity and improve quality."