Korea Expressway Corporation has launched an emergency management task force (TF) reporting directly to the acting president to overhaul the operation of highway rest areas.
The corporation said Tuesday that it had established the independent task force to objectively review rest area operation systems and develop effective improvement measures.
The task force will establish criteria for imposing disadvantages, including excluding retiree groups from bidding participation, and draft measures to enhance fairness and transparency in operational service evaluations. It also plans to push for a structural overhaul of overall operations — centered on introducing a direct contract system between the public sector and small business tenants — covering rental rates, bidding systems, and management structures to eliminate unfair elements.
"We will work closely with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to build a fairer system," the corporation said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said the same day that it had uncovered misconduct in highway rest area operations by Doseonghoe, a retiree group of Korea Expressway Corporation, and would refer the case for criminal investigation. A ministry audit found that Doseonghoe had exploited its status as a non-profit organization for 40 years, distributing profits and evading taxes through a wholly owned subsidiary.
