A total of 109 smartphone apps were released by 16 government agencies that fall under the Ministry of Agriculture since 2013. (image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — One third of the smartphone applications released by government entities falling under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) have been discontinued.
According to MAFRA data submitted to Rep. Lee Man-hee of the Liberty Korea Party, a total of 109 smartphone apps were released by 16 government agencies that fall under the Ministry of Agriculture since 2013.
A total of 51.8 billion won was used to develop and launch the apps. Lee sits on the board of the National Assembly’s Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans & Fisheries Committee.
Suggesting a potential misuse of public funds, one third of the apps (36 in total) were found to have been discontinued.
Approximately 2.7 billion won was used to fund the development and operation of the apps no longer in use. Of these, 13 apps were shut down because they had low usage rates, and 11 were merged with other apps that were developed within MAFRA.
Ten apps were discontinued because they were similar to existing apps and the main projects connected to two apps were stopped altogether, meaning the apps became irrelevant.
The developers of some of the apps simply did not consider the preferences of the mass public.
For example, the National Institute of Crop Science released a “rice growing game” that allowed users to experience the process of growing rice plants, but the game was discontinued because it proved to be unpopular with the public.
Lee said that many apps that have been developed with taxpayer money have been ignored by farmers and consumers alike. “A needs analysis of apps must be performed first before developing them,” said the lawmaker.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
