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Innovation centers, a centerpiece of the "creative economy" policy initiated by President Park Geun-hye, are at risk amid a widening influence-peddling scandal surrounding the president and her confidante, government sources said Tuesday.
Since taking office, Park has pushed forward the "creative economy" policy that seeks new and inventive business opportunities and more jobs through the fusion of information technology and other industries.
To push for the initiative, the central government, in cooperation with provincial governments, has established "creative economy innovation centers" in 17 locations across the country.
The main goal of the centers is to match up local startups and venture firms with conglomerates, which can provide resources to smaller companies so that they can turn creative ideas into real business opportunities. The centers have also provided various kinds of support for aspiring entrepreneurs both at home and abroad.
According to the sources, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to withdraw the budget for one of the 17 centers located in Seoul.
The city government injected 1 billion ($854,000) into the center last year but said it plans to withdraw the 2 billion allocated for this year.
Also, there are moves in the National Assembly to cut back the budget for the creative centers next year.
Earlier, the government announced that the budget allocated for creative economy innovation centers will be increased by 8.5 percent on-year to 607.2 billion won in 2017.
The moves come amid the snowballing scandal involving Choi Soon-sil that she had intervened in state affairs and personally benefited by using her friendship with President Park.
There have been mounting suspicions that Choi even spearheaded many of Park's policies, including the creative economy policy.
The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, in charge of the innovation centers, argues that the policy has nothing to with Choi.
The ministry argues that the centers have offered various forms of support to 1,175 startups, and 1,644 small and medium-sized enterprises, and have helped attract investments worth $256 million for these local firms. (Yonhap)
Since taking office, Park has pushed forward the "creative economy" policy that seeks new and inventive business opportunities and more jobs through the fusion of information technology and other industries.
To push for the initiative, the central government, in cooperation with provincial governments, has established "creative economy innovation centers" in 17 locations across the country.
The main goal of the centers is to match up local startups and venture firms with conglomerates, which can provide resources to smaller companies so that they can turn creative ideas into real business opportunities. The centers have also provided various kinds of support for aspiring entrepreneurs both at home and abroad.
According to the sources, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to withdraw the budget for one of the 17 centers located in Seoul.
The city government injected 1 billion ($854,000) into the center last year but said it plans to withdraw the 2 billion allocated for this year.
Also, there are moves in the National Assembly to cut back the budget for the creative centers next year.
Earlier, the government announced that the budget allocated for creative economy innovation centers will be increased by 8.5 percent on-year to 607.2 billion won in 2017.
The moves come amid the snowballing scandal involving Choi Soon-sil that she had intervened in state affairs and personally benefited by using her friendship with President Park.
There have been mounting suspicions that Choi even spearheaded many of Park's policies, including the creative economy policy.
The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, in charge of the innovation centers, argues that the policy has nothing to with Choi.
The ministry argues that the centers have offered various forms of support to 1,175 startups, and 1,644 small and medium-sized enterprises, and have helped attract investments worth $256 million for these local firms. (Yonhap)
