Heo Yu-in, Speaker, Will Not Hold a One-Point Assembly on Emergency Disaster Relief Fund

Posting Heo Seok Mayor Interview Content as an Issue in Si Council Members' Group Chat... Controversy Ahead of Chuseok
Another Suspicion Behind Heo Yu-in Chairman's Remarks... Opposition from Council Members Close to So Councilor

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] The Suncheon City Council's statement posted by Chairman Heo Yu-in in the Suncheon City Council members' group chat, clarifying facts related to Mayor Heo Seok's interview on KBS Suncheon Broadcasting Station's 'Sisa Focus Jeonnam East,' has become a topic of controversy ahead of the holidays.

Chairman Heo stated, "Mayor Heo Seok said he promised that the 'Ordinance on the Establishment and Operation of the Integrated Financial Stabilization Fund' would be processed through a one-point council session by Chairman Heo Yu-in to enable the payment of emergency disaster relief funds, but as the chairman, I have never made such a promise with the mayor."

He also emphasized to the city council members, "There is no such one-point council session as the mayor mentioned."

A public official, Mr. A, who saw the post in the Suncheon City Council members' group chat, criticized the behavior as incomprehensible, saying, "It has not even been a few hours since Mayor Heo Seok said at the executive meeting that he resolved misunderstandings with Councilor So Byung-chul, so I don't understand why the council chairman is nitpicking the mayor's words."

Councilor B said, "These days, the city council is receiving a lot of criticism over the emergency disaster relief funds," and expressed the view that "bringing up the disaster relief funds ahead of the holidays is inappropriate."

The Asia Economy reporter requested evidence related to Mayor Heo's remarks from Suncheon City.

A city official said that Chairman Heo Yu-in made remarks related to the emergency disaster relief funds at the 'COVID-19 Overcoming Public-Private Countermeasure Meeting' held on the 18th.

At the meeting, it is claimed that Chairman Heo said, "Since the decision-making body in local governments is the council, if the council does not approve, the timing will be delayed," and "It is not something the chairman can do alone, so we will actively review it in the steering committee, and if the ordinance is passed late, a supplementary budget can be a one-point session if necessary."

He also reportedly said, "If the supplementary budget is not passed at the October temporary session before the final supplementary budget, the budget may not stand, so we will review such parts," and "Since this is the first time in such a situation, we fully agree to actively review it after sufficient discussion in the future."

The 'COVID-19 Overcoming Public-Private Countermeasure Meeting' is a meeting attended by heads of 23 organizations and groups, including Suncheon City and the Suncheon City Council, Suncheon Medical Center and various hospitals, Suncheon Medical Association, Nursing Association, Suncheon National University and local universities, Suncheon Office of Education, Suncheon Police Station, Suncheon Fire Station, Chamber of Commerce, and Small Business Federation.

According to media reports, the meeting focused on reports on the COVID-19 response status of Suncheon City and each institution, requests for cooperation from related organizations, timing of social distancing level adjustments, and methods for Suncheon City's own emergency disaster relief fund support plan following the government's second COVID-19 emergency support plan.

Meanwhile, during the last temporary session councilors' briefing, it was reported that Councilor K insisted on "holding a one-point council session to process the 'Ordinance on the Establishment and Operation of the Integrated Financial Stabilization Fund'."

Attention is focused on the background of the sensitive reaction of the city council to the mayor's remarks in the media interview.

In particular, analyzing that raising issues about Mayor Heo Seok's remarks on emergency disaster relief funds just before the Chuseok holiday is an unusual situation in local politics.

Chairman Heo's KakaoTalk message, which emerged amid criticism that the city council mishandled the official document from Councilor So Byung-chul containing some inappropriate phrases that could cause misunderstandings by Mayor Heo Seok, is being interpreted in various ways.

Although Councilor So Byung-chul and Mayor Heo Seok "resolved misunderstandings," it is reported that Chairman Heo and the standing committee chairpersons, who seem to be aligned with Councilor So, are actively opposing the emergency disaster relief funds, leading some to suspect that the "resolution of misunderstandings" may still leave some lingering issues.

Meanwhile, Chairman Heo said, "I think disaster relief funds can be paid if they help people's livelihoods and the city's finances allow it. However, understanding and agreement from the council are necessary on how to repay over the next five years," adding, "Especially, using the fund for disaster relief is like debt, so citizens' consent is needed, and it should be handled carefully."

Chairman Heo's KakaoTalk message did not raise issues regarding the payment of the 'emergency disaster relief funds.'

However, he denied any promise of a one-point council session regarding the 'Ordinance on the Establishment and Operation of the Integrated Financial Stabilization Fund,' criticizing Mayor Heo's remarks and implying that a one-point council session will not be held.

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