(Dangjin=Yonhap News) Reporter Jeong Yun-deok = On the 24th, Representative Eo Gi-gu (Dangjin, Chungnam) from the Democratic Party, who is a member of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Food and Marine Committee, revealed that the deficit size has increased by over 24 times in three years, based on an analysis of data submitted by the Central Association of Forest Cooperatives.
In 2021, 10 cooperatives incurred a deficit of over 2 billion won, but last year, 33 cooperatives recorded a deficit of over 48.2 billion won.
This year, the situation is more severe, with 82 out of 142 cooperatives, which is 57.7%, recording a deficit as of June, with a total deficit amount reaching 63.1 billion won.
Representative Eo pointed out, "If the financial crisis of the forest cooperatives persists for a long time, the damage will eventually fall on the cooperative members and forestry workers," and added, "The Central Association of Forest Cooperatives explained that costs are concentrated in the first half of the year and revenue is reflected in the second half, but the increasing trend of deficit cooperatives is a clear warning signal."