By Yun Suh-young
Gyeonggi Province has decided to let a private firm run the Gyeonggi English Village Paju camp to escape a management crisis stemming from years of cumulative losses.
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government said Thursday it had submitted a motion to the Gyeonggi Provincial Council on Monday for the consignment of operation of the English immersion camp to a private company.
If the council passes the motion, the provincial government will begin looking for a private firm to hand over the managerial control of the village through an open bid.
“We decided to turn the managerial rights of the English Village over to a private firm due to chronic financial difficulties,” said an official from the Gyeonggi Provincial Government.
“When the motion is passed at the council on Feb. 14, a selected private firm will start overseeing the programs and facilities of the English village,” he said.
The Paju English Village has been bleeding since its opening in 2006.
After recording a 19.2 billion won loss in the first year, it has been sinking in debt, although it had managed to cut the deficit to 1.9 billion won last year.
The province has already transferred the control of the other two English villages in Yangpyeong and Ansan to private firms.