[imText1] Most of the factories in Kaesung Complex are facing financial problems according to a report \u201cThe Situation on 22 factories in Kaesung Industrial Complex\u201d revealed by the Forum for Inter-Korea Relations. <\/p>\n
According to the report, most of the companies in Kaesung Complex are facing entrepreneurial difficulties due to restraints in contracts and inadequate resources. <\/p>\n
The Forum for Inter-Korea Relations (co-representative Kim Kyu Chul) has been monitoring the South-North economic cooperation. The Forum released a report on the 15th which revealed that two companies leasing areas in Kaesung, Moonchang Industry and SJ Tech, were facing management difficulties and handed over the right of management to North Korea\u2019s managers. The companies have invested a total of 9bn won. <\/p>\n
The Forum bases its evidence on results provided by legal representatives for the 22 companies in Kaesung, collected over a period of 2 years, and a North Korean document on the business circumstances in Kaesung in relation to difficulties faced by South Korean managers. <\/p>\n
Mr. Kim said, \u201cWe confirmed through representatives of two companies leasing areas in Kaesung Complex, Moonchang Industry and SJ Tech, that problems were being experienced due to insufficient human resources and freedom of enterprise.\u201d Mr. Kim also revealed, \u201cThese companies are facing such severe management difficulties that they have apparently designated the right of management over to the North.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, the findings in the report are disputed by the companies involved. Regarding this, Director of SJ Tech Lim Hwang Yong said in a conversation with the DailyNK on the 15th, \u201cThere is absolutely no evidence to the claim that the companies in Kaesung have handed their business permits over to the North,\u201d strongly denying the act. Similarly, an affiliate of Moonchang Industry commented that the claim was groundless. <\/p>\n
In addition, many companies such as Sonoko Cuisineware, Daehwa Fuel Pump, Bucheon Industrial Company have made large investments in equipment to manufacture and produce goods. Other companies are known to have begun other production such as paper folding. In order to recover from the entrepreneurial ditch, another company has begun manufacturing shopping bags. The total amount invested by these companies exceed around 17bn won (US$18.3mn). <\/p>\n
Regarding this, an affiliate of Sonoko Cuisineware said, \u201cWe are merely using our pre-existing equipment to manufacture shopping bags.\u201d<\/p>\n
Furthermore, according to the document, the shoe manufacturer Peace Company is using its materials initially designed for shoes to produce slippers as it faces management problems during this time. It seems that Peace Company is not able to utilize 100% of its factory materials due to a lack of human resources. Meanwhile, Samduk Comapny has actually made a loss of $1.8mn as a result of 10 different claims made following its entry in Kaesung complex.<\/p>\n
Other companies including TS Precision, JC Com, Solu Tech, Magic Micro, HOSAN A.C.E which based their manufacture on electrical parts are currently deliberating producing other goods, because the goods they started with were found to be below standard due to the lack of training and skills of North Korean workers. <\/p>\n
An affiliate of TS Precision said, \u201cOur company asked that the workers have basic understanding of math and English. But no matter how many times we teach the North Korean workers, they do not understand\u201d and added \u201cCurrently, only a third of the factory is in operation, while the other materials are being considered for manufacture other goods.\u201d <\/p>\n
Lee Hyun Suk of JC Com said, \u201cIt is true that the produced goods are of low quality. This is because North Korean workers lack skills as a result of inadequate training\u201d and asserted, \u201cIt has been two months since we asked for workers, but we still have not been provided with the workers demanded.\u201d <\/p>\n
However, he added, \u201cIn order to overcome this issue, we are training the North Korean workers ourselves.\u201d Mr. Lee refused to comment on whether other goods were being considered for manufacture.<\/p>\n
Of all the businesses experiencing management difficulties, Artrang, Pyongan and Sonoko Cuisineware are known to be preparing factory leases.<\/p>\n
Mr. Kim stated, \u201cCompanies finding it difficult to increase production with the original factory equipment are considering leasing areas to other companies.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cNot only is it illegal for businesses to manufacture goods other than the items listed in the initial contract, it is also illegal to lease the areas to other companies.\u201d <\/p>\n
In relation to this, an affiliate of Sonoko Cuisineware said, \u201cCompanies other than Sonoko Cuisineware are using the location but after receiving a permit from the Ministry of Unification\u201d and remarked, \u201cHowever, these companies have not leased the area to help recuperate mismanagement but are rather producing goods needed for our business.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the other hand, 7 other companies are showing a glimmer of hope as they conduct regular operations. These companies include Good People, Shinwon, Cotton Club, Taesung Industrial, Sunghwa Trading, Jeil Sangpum and Grubig International Co.<\/p>\n
Mr. Kim said, \u201cThough many outsiders perceive Kaesung Complex as a success, the truth of the matter is that most of the companies are experiencing hardships. Unless management, employment, personnel, and freedom of contract increases, it is unclear whether these companies will or will not succeed.\u201d
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[imText1] Most of the factories in Kaesung Complex are facing financial problems according to a report \u201cThe Situation on 22 factories in Kaesung Industrial Complex\u201d revealed by the Forum for Inter-Korea Relations. According to the report, most of the companies in Kaesung Complex are facing entrepreneurial difficulties due to restraints in contracts and inadequate resources. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":169,"featured_media":4173,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wikipediapreview_detectlinks":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n