Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, Urges "Guaranteeing Welfare Autonomy Rights to Local Governments"

Participation in the Press Conference of the National Association of Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads Announcing the 'Welfare Grand Compromise Urging Statement'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun District, attended a press conference on the afternoon of the 28th at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, where the ‘Central-Regional-Local Government Welfare Grand Compromise Urging Statement’ was announced.

At the press conference hosted by the Welfare Grand Compromise Special Committee under the Korea Association of Mayors, Governors and District Heads, Mayor Moon emphasized, “The top-down policy decisions and unilateral financial allocation methods of the central government cannot effectively respond to the diversifying welfare demands,” and stated, “Administrative and financial welfare autonomy must be guaranteed to local governments.”

He also pointed out, “The biggest reason local governments find it difficult to take responsibility for regional welfare demands is the excessive local financial burden for national welfare affairs,” and argued, “Nationwide and universal income security welfare benefits such as basic pensions, child allowances, and disability pensions should be fully funded by the central government.”

Furthermore, he stressed, “Regional governments’ independent welfare projects should be fully funded by city and provincial budgets, and reasonable standards for the allocation of local funds in national subsidy projects must be established,” adding, “To this end, the establishment of a ‘Financial Burden Deliberation Committee’ involving both regional and local governments should be mandated, and financial and policy partnerships must be built.”

On the same day, the Welfare Grand Compromise Special Committee under the Korea Association of Mayors, Governors and District Heads urged, “For South Korea to advance as a sustainable welfare state, close consultation and organic cooperation among central, regional, and local governments are essential,” and called on “the central and regional governments to participate in the grand compromise forum for a rational redefinition of roles.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.