Suncheon City Firmly Committed to Raising the 'Farmer and Fisherman Public Interest Allowance'

Consultation with Jeonnam Province, Exploring and Considering Various Measures Including Requests for National Funding Support

[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon City in Jeollanam-do announced on the 10th its intention to increase the 'Public Interest Allowance for Farmers and Fishermen,' which is provided to enhance the public and multifunctional roles of agriculture and fisheries and improve the quality of life for farmers and fishermen.

There are significant practical obstacles to raising the Public Interest Allowance for farmers and fishermen.

First, the 22 cities and counties within Jeollanam-do must decide on any increase in the allowance through mutual consultation with Jeollanam-do according to an agreement, and individual local governments are not allowed to proceed independently under relevant laws and regulations.

Additionally, although the amendment to the current ordinance on the Public Interest Allowance in Jeollanam-do, requested by farmers' organizations such as the Farmers' Association, was submitted as a proposal to the Provincial Council, the Agricultural and Fisheries Committee of the province has requested Jeollanam-do to supplement the proposal with explicit opinions from the 22 mayors and county heads.

The Public Interest Allowance is funded 40% by the provincial government and 60% by the cities and counties, so increasing it would also impose a considerable budget burden on Jeollanam-do.

In this situation, Suncheon City plans to pursue a phased increase of the allowance and secure national government funding.

They are actively urging the provincial government and the central government for national funding support through organic consultations with Jeollanam-do and are exploring various measures, including proposing the inclusion of the Public Interest Allowance for farmers and fishermen as a national policy project.

As a city combining urban and rural areas, Suncheon is emphasizing the necessity of agriculture and rural areas by producing the nation's first promotional video on the public and multifunctional roles of agriculture and rural communities by a basic local government and broadcasting it as a TV campaign advertisement.

Mayor Heo Seok of Suncheon stated, "An increase in the Public Interest Allowance is necessary to guarantee the basic income of farmers and fishermen and to provide social compensation for the public functions of agriculture, fisheries, and rural areas," adding, "Suncheon City will pursue a phased increase and actively urge Jeollanam-do and the central government to secure national funding," expressing his determination to raise the allowance.

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