Members of the Korea Professional Photograph Association smash cameras in front of Bosingak, central Seoul, in a rally against the government's plan to offer a free photograph service to citizens for passports, Friday. / Yonhap |
By Kim Rahn
With almost all people owning digital cameras and carrying mobile phones that can take pictures, people barely visit photo-printing shops these days. If they do, the main purpose of their visit may be to obtain portrait shots for passports or job application forms.
Those in the photo studio industry have risen in revolt of the government’s plan to offer a free photograph service to citizens for passports, claiming that it will wipe out their already-waning businesses.
Some 1,300 members of the Korea Professional Photograph Association that represents photo studio operators staged a rally in downtown Seoul Friday, calling for the government to scrap the policy.
“Following growing public use of digital cameras, more than 60 percent of photo studios have closed down in the last decade. Most small-sized studios make 30-40 million won per year, mainly from portrait shots. As shots for passports take up about 30 percent of the total, the government policy will devastate our business,” said Lee Jae-bum, head of the association’s emergency committee.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Public Administration and Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said those applying for passports can have their digital photos taken at ward offices for free.
The authorities said they can get clearer images through such filed photos than scanning printed photos that applicants bring, adding the measure can help citizens save time and money.
They planned a one-year pilot operation of the policy in 10 regions in the latter half of this year and then would expand it gradually.
But the studio operators say the policy not only deprives them of their means of living but also wastes taxpayers’ money.
“It is said the government will spend 70 billion won to set up related facilities. Those going overseas are only a small part of the total population, those in the upper class. It is absurd to spend tax on specific people. It will be better to use the money for the needy,” Lee said.
“If the government prefers filed photos to printed ones, it may be able to set up a system through which we can send filed photos to the government through the Internet.”
Lee also pointed out other after effects the free digital photo policy will bring. “Because there will be no jobs, the number of students applying for photography majors will decrease. Related businesses, such as makers of printers, ink and picture frames, will also be damaged in a domino effect.”
Following such a strong backlash, the foreign affairs ministry said it will reconsider the time to adopt the policy.
“We’ll have the pilot operation at some Korean embassies overseas this year. We’ll decide whether to expand it to other embassies or adopt it in Korea after reviewing the pilot operation,” a ministry official said.
According to the ministry, 13 countries are carrying out a similar free photo service, including Switzerland, Sweden, Portugal, Chile and the Philippines.
|
데이트부터 청소부터… 시급남편까지
-Apgujeong-Rodeo-Stree.jpg)
