By Lee Hyo-sik
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province has not paid for hundreds of millions of international phone calls its employees made over the past few years to ensure the country’s southern resort island was selected as one of the New7Wonders of Nature in a worldwide poll.
A senior official overseeing the finances of the provincial government said Tuesday that it has asked KT, the country’s largest landline phone operator, to defer its phone bill indefinitely. He said the municipal administration is currently unable to make payments estimated to be about 20 billion won ($17 million).
The administration set aside about 300 million won this year for telephone and other communication-related expenses.
“We do not know exactly how much we owe KT. The amount will be finalized in January,” he said. “Some media outlets have raised concerns that if we do not pay our phone bill on time, it could force the Swiss-based organization New7Wonders Foundation to invalidate Jeju’s designation. But that’s not true.”
The worldwide vote was organized by the Swiss-based organization New7Wonders Foundation in 2007. Over the past four years, millions of Koreans and non-Koreans at home and abroad were encouraged by the central and Jeju provincial governments to make phone calls to vote and help the island win the designation.
Those who voted for Jeju did so online at (www.new7wonders.com) or by making a phone call to 1588-7715. Each call cost 180 won.
The official said even if the provincial government fails to pay its bill, it will have no effect on Jeju’s selection as one of the world’s new seven natural wonders.
“We asked KT to give us more time to make the payment. In the meantime, we expect KT to fulfill whatever business deals it has with the New7Wonders Foundation. I am 100 percent positive that Jeju will be confirmed as one of the new seven natural wonders,” he said.
When asked by The Korea Times, KT declined to comment on the issue, saying it cannot divulge client information.
KT, the country’s largest landline phone operator, signed an agreement with the New7Wonders Foundation to ensure phone voting was only possible through its lines. In return, the company promised to pay the Swiss-based organization a certain portion of its revenues as commission.
On Nov. 12, the island was named one of the New7Wonders of Nature in the worldwide poll. But contrary to what was previously thought, the selection was “provisionary,” not final and the actual winners will be announced next month.
