Jo Young-je and Baek Su-myeong, Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly Members, Say "Gyeongnam Agricultural and Fishery Budget Is Too Small"

Budget Shortage Compared to Jeonnam and Jeonbuk, Free School Meal Budget Disguised as Agricultural and Fisheries Budget

Jo Young-je (left) and Baek Su-myeong, Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly members.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Song Jong-gu] Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly members Cho Young-je and Baek Su-myung stated on the 20th that "Gyeongnam's agriculture and fisheries budget is too small compared to Jeonnam and Jeonbuk."

The Agriculture, Fisheries, and Marine Committee of the Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly concluded its three-day schedule of the 397th extraordinary session on the same day.

At this standing committee, they received reports on the major work plans of Gyeongnam's agriculture and marine-related departments (Marine and Fisheries Bureau, Agricultural Policy Bureau, Agricultural Technology Center) and reviewed the supplementary budget.

During the session, concerns were raised that Gyeongnam's agriculture and fisheries budget is allocated insufficiently compared to other provinces, reducing the benefits that return to farmers and fishermen in the Gyeongnam region.

Assemblyman Cho pointed out, "Gyeongnam's agriculture and fisheries budget is 1.2174 trillion KRW, accounting for 10.74% of Gyeongnam's total budget. Nearby Jeonnam's agriculture and fisheries budget is 1.8451 trillion KRW, which is 18.36%, and even Jeonbuk, which has far fewer farms than us, has 1.2113 trillion KRW allocated to agriculture and fisheries, making up 16.28% of its total budget."

Assemblyman Baek said, "The free meal budget of 52.7 billion KRW provided to the education office and the 300 million KRW budget for social welfare facility support are included in the agriculture and fisheries budget," adding, "These budgets are disguised as agriculture and fisheries budgets, creating an optical illusion for our farmers and fishermen."

He continued, "Excluding these two budgets, Gyeongnam's actual agriculture and fisheries budget is 1.1644 trillion KRW, which is only 9% of the total budget. These budgets reduce the actual funds that should go to farmers and fishermen," and added, "The proportion of the free meal budget supported by Gyeongnam Province and municipalities to the education office is 65%. I understand that the education office's budget situation is much better than that of the province and municipalities, so it is necessary to adjust it to around 50%, similar to other provinces."

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