[Exclusive] Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Opposes Disaster Relief Fund, Clashes with Government Over 'National Fund Discrimination'... Unacceptable

Tug of War Over National Treasury Support Ratio
Other Local Governments Receive 80% Support, but Seoul City Considers Financial Capacity and Sets 70%
Difference Amounts to 140 Billion Won
Mayor Oh Officially Requests Increase in Subsidy Rate

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has defied the government over the issue of distributing the COVID-19 coexistence national support fund (disaster relief fund). The government allocates 80% of the support fund from the national treasury and requires local governments to cover the remaining 20%. However, for Seoul City, this ratio is set at 70%. This decision was made based on the judgment that Seoul's financial capacity is better than other regions.

Seoul City argues that this is not only an "unfair discrimination" but also that, considering the current financial situation, it may not be able to properly distribute the support fund to Seoul citizens. From Seoul City's perspective, the difference between a 70% and 80% national treasury burden amounts to 140 billion KRW.

According to the document titled "The Necessity of Increasing Seoul City's Subsidy Rate for the COVID-19 Coexistence National Support Fund," obtained by Asia Economy on the 12th through the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, Seoul City has requested the government to raise the national subsidy rate from the current 70% to 80%, which is the level of other cities and provinces.

According to the data titled 'The Necessity to Increase the Seoul City Subsidy Rate for the COVID-19 Mutual Aid National Support Fund,' obtained by Asia Economy on the 12th through the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, Seoul City requested the government to raise the national subsidy rate from the current 70% to 80%, which is the level of other metropolitan cities and provinces.

If the support fund is confirmed to be 250,000 KRW per person for the bottom 80% income bracket, Seoul City's burden will be about 400 billion KRW. On the other hand, if the subsidy rate is increased to 80%, the burden will be reduced to 260 billion KRW.

In the document, Seoul City stated, "The subsidy rate discrimination is an extension of the habitual government budget allocation," and argued, "It is unfair discrimination against Seoul City and must be corrected." Furthermore, they warned, "If the national subsidy rate is not increased, it will be difficult to secure funds, and there is a risk that payments may not be made according to the government's plan."

This controversy draws attention not only because of the difference in Seoul City's burden?whether it is 400 billion KRW or 260 billion KRW?but also because it marks Mayor Oh, an opposition party figure, taking his first political stance against the government. According to political circles, Mayor Oh recently met with Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum and officially requested an increase in the national subsidy rate.

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