Controversy surrounding the replacement of outdated computers by the Jeonbuk Provincial Office of Education continues to linger. The Jeonbuk branch of the National Government Employees' Union has been launching a campaign, raising suspicions of project fragmentation and collusion with specific companies, while the Education Office has countered by stating that the allegations are untrue. However, the essence of this issue lies not so much in technical issues in the administrative process, but rather in the choice between protecting local businesses and allowing domination by large external companies.

The background for the Education Office's decision to adopt a decentralized procurement method by regional education support offices is clear. The previous blanket purchases by the provincial education office repeatedly led to a situation where large external companies monopolized the entire volume, excluding small local businesses from the market. The "local business priority purchase" and "bonus point system" were established in response to this awareness of the problem.

In fact, the Jeonbuk Provincial Office of Education has experienced similar trial and error in the past. During the tenure of Superintendent Kim Seung-hwan in 2018, a controversy arose during a mass purchase of musical instruments when the Education Office awarded the project to a specific construction company, leading to the delivery of instruments from a music store in Seoul, sparking controversies over after-sales service and quality. This issue, extensively covered by the local newspaper at the time, resulted in the thorough exclusion of local music stores and businesses. Subsequently, the Education Office improved its system by awarding bonus points when collaborating with local businesses or forming consortia for large projects, making regional economic revitalization and prevention of education budget outflow its policy objectives.

However, the supply of smart devices introduced during the tenure of Superintendent Seo Geo-seok has once again sparked controversy. By selecting specific models and operating a product selection committee for two years, a project worth a total of 200 billion won was pursued, leading to a situation where many local businesses were excluded from the delivery opportunities and faced threats to their survival by only being responsible for maintenance. Following the raised issues, a decentralized procurement method was introduced for the computer replacement project, and a system granting local bonus points in accordance with the "Promotion Ordinance for the Purchase of Local Products" began to be implemented in earnest.

Of course, it is true that certain companies secured a considerable amount of the volume during the implementation of the system. However, this is a result stemming from structural factors such as the extremely limited number of companies in Jeonbuk, differences in procurement registration timing, and issues related to product specifications. Moreover, it is difficult to simply label this as "favoritism" when the legal aspects were confirmed through the interpretation of the Procurement Service before the project was initiated. Instead, the provision of such opportunities can help numerous local companies in the province build competitiveness and serve as a stepping stone for them to enter the national market.

What we should focus on now is not the frame of suspicion. There remains a task of how to operate the system more meticulously. The local bonus point system cannot be sustained solely on the pretext of "protecting local businesses." The legitimacy and effectiveness of the system will be further enhanced when more transparent selection processes and practical support measures for expanding the local business base are implemented concurrently.

Jeonbuk has long experienced the invasion of the education equipment market by conglomerates in the capital region. Ultimately, a single computer used by students could contribute to the revenue of a Jeonbuk company or the profit of a Seoul conglomerate. Regionalism is not a matter of choice but a matter of survival. This controversy should serve as an opportunity to reaffirm the value and necessity of systems aimed at protecting the local economy.