2 weeks Ago By Korea Bizwire
Residents watch wildfires spreading to a nearby hillside in Andong, about 190 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on March 25, 2025. (Image courtesy of Yonhap) SEOUL, April 22 (Korea Bizwire) — An association of overseas Korean business leaders has touched off a controversy for planning to hold a large-scale gathering in a southeastern city recently devastated by the nation’s worst-ever wildfire. The World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Association (World-OKTA) reportedly plans to hold its 26th leaders’ convention and export consultations at the Andong International Convention Center in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, from April 28 to May 1.
Andong, 250 kilometers southeast of Seoul, was hit hard by a large-scale forest fire for nine days as recently as late March, leaving thousands of residents displaced. It was previously expected that the event would be postponed or its venue changed, but World-OKTA has decided to push ahead with the original schedule. In addition, some critics point out that World-OKTA may have violated the election law for receiving 400 million won (about US$281,700) in subsidies from local governments ahead of the early presidential election slated for June 3.
The association has reportedly received subsidies of 150 million won and 250 million won from the North Gyeongsang provincial government and the Andong city government, respectively. The current election law prohibits organizing or sponsoring festivals and various public events for 60 days prior to the election day. The critics say it is questionable how successful the World-OKTA event will be, because many houses were completely burned down or damaged by the recent wildfires and the displaced residents have recently moved to motels and other places after staying in temporary shelters, such as Andong Gymnasium, close to the conference venue.
World-OKTA reportedly considered postponing the event out of consideration for the wildfire damage but decided not to change the schedule in consideration of overseas Koreans’ entry and exit schedules. World-OKTA has countered the criticism by saying that it will operate 256 export consultation booths for 240 domestic companies during the conference and collect donations for the displaced people. Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Park Jong-bum, chairman of World-OKTA, recently attempted to unilaterally change the name of the association, triggering controversy among its members.
Park said in a media interview on April 11 that he will push to change the name of the association but issued an apology over his remark later. (Yonhap).
