Geumcheon-gu Cuts 35 Billion Won from 2023 Budget...Concerns Over Resident Participation and Welfare Impact

Geumcheon-gu Issues Statement on the Passage of the 2023 Budget... Over 35 Billion Won Cut from Key Projects Including Cooperation, Resident Safety, Future Generation Education, and Local Economy Revitalization in 2023 Budget Review

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yu Seong-hoon) has issued a statement regarding the significant budget cuts to many major projects in Geumcheon-gu during the 2023 budget review process by the Geumcheon-gu Council.

On December 21, during the 5th plenary session of the 240th regular meeting, the Geumcheon-gu Council finalized the 2023 budget after cutting approximately 35 billion KRW, the largest amount in Geumcheon-gu’s history.

The reduced budget included key projects aimed at improving residents' quality of life and Geumcheon-gu’s development, such as ▲co-governance for resident participation ▲resident safety ▲education for future generations ▲resident welfare ▲creation of the Geumbit Park open plaza ▲regional economic revitalization ▲establishment of a pet welfare center.

Mayor Yu Seong-hoon of Geumcheon-gu stated, “I deeply regret and apologize to the residents of Geumcheon-gu for the budget cuts and take full responsibility,” adding, “I am deeply concerned and worried that the unilateral budget cuts without clear criteria or policy alternatives may directly harm the residents.”

He continued, “Geumcheon-gu will not be discouraged by this and will fulfill its duty as a public institution providing administrative services closest to the residents. We will also strive to meet residents’ expectations with alternative measures and better policies.”

Geumcheon-gu’s Statement on the Passage of the 2023 Budget

Dear residents of Geumcheon-gu,

I am Yu Seong-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu.

During the budget review process held in the 240th regular session of the Geumcheon-gu Council, many major projects were cut. As the mayor, I take full responsibility and sincerely express my deep regret and apology to all residents.

The next year’s budget, the largest in Geumcheon-gu’s history at approximately 35 billion KRW, was cut without clear reasons and passed at the 5th plenary session of the council on the 21st.

Budget review is the exclusive authority of the Geumcheon-gu Council, and the council has the duty to carefully examine the budget to prevent waste. However, it is difficult to agree with whether this budget review process was a thorough examination to prevent waste, whether the urgency and priority of projects were considered, and whether the decisions and direction were appropriate for regional development and improving residents’ quality of life.

I am deeply troubled by the worry and concern that the unilateral budget cuts without clear criteria or policy alternatives may directly affect the residents.

First, the budgets for co-governance to promote resident participation and for resident safety were cut.

Co-governance goes beyond political ideology and involves residents deciding and resolving key local issues and problems, thereby building a healthier local community.

However, during the budget review process, most of the budgets for resident autonomy and co-governance policies aimed at activating resident participation were cut, undermining the foundation of resident autonomy and democracy that Geumcheon-gu has worked hard to establish.

(※ Geumcheon-type co-governance system operating expenses of 150 million KRW fully cut, 10 million KRW fully cut for Saemaeul scholarship payments benefiting residents common to 25 districts, 79 million KRW cut for autonomous community center operating expenses)

Furthermore, although preventing safety accidents is more important than post-accident measures, many safety budgets intended to proactively address various risk factors were cut.

The budget for replacing and reinforcing old exercise equipment in the autonomous community center’s fitness room to prevent safety accidents among facility users was cut, and the entire budget for building a children’s traffic safety experience center was cut, making it difficult to provide traffic safety education and hands-on practice opportunities tailored to children’s perspectives.

Additionally, efforts to design a regionally specialized smart city model for disaster and safety management to realize a safer smart city that residents can feel were also thwarted.

(※ 56 million KRW cut for replacement of old equipment in autonomous community center fitness room, 700 million KRW fully cut for children’s traffic safety experience center, 150 million KRW cut for smart city master plan research for disaster and safety management)

Second, budgets for Geumcheon’s future generations and welfare were cut.

Budgets for operating the Geumcheon Future Scholarship Foundation, establishing a future job experience center, constructing the Geumcheon Education Complex Center, and renovation costs for youth reading rooms in Siheung 4 and 5-dong were cut. Supporting Geumcheon’s future generations is not optional but essential, and I express deep concern over the current situation of abandoning budgets for future generations.

(※ 1 billion KRW cut for operating support of Geumcheon Future Scholarship Foundation, 220 million KRW cut for metaverse future job experience center, 22.3 billion KRW cut for construction of Geumcheon Education Complex Center, 630 million KRW cut for remodeling youth reading rooms in Siheung 4 and 5-dong)

Also, support for the 50 Plus Center, which assists middle-aged and older adults with employment and life redesign, was reduced, raising serious concerns about regression in welfare policies.

(※ 100 million KRW cut for operating Geumcheon 50 Plus Center)

Third, 4.5 billion KRW was cut from the budget for creating the Geumbit Park open plaza.

The budget cut for the Geumbit Park open plaza, which has been progressing since 2018 through resident participation and consultations with Seoul City, has left the park site a barren field.

This will not only cause setbacks in the project but also increase inconvenience for nearby residents’ walking and heighten fatigue among residents of Siheung 1-dong who have been unable to use the project site for a long time.

(※ 4.5 billion KRW cut for construction and supervision costs of Geumbit Park open plaza)

Fourth, budgets for regional economic development in Geumcheon were cut.

Budgets for the Geumcheon Industrial Promotion Agency, which would lead the development of G-Valley, and various corporate support budgets aimed at resolving difficulties faced by local companies and supporting overseas market expansion were all cut.

This raises concerns about the decline of regional economic development and nullifies our district’s efforts and attempts to revitalize the local economy amid a recession marked by high interest rates and inflation.

(※ 96 million KRW cut for establishing plans for Geumcheon Industrial Promotion Agency, 90 million KRW cut for traditional market online capacity building and sales promotion infrastructure support project, 100 million KRW cut for G-Valley B2B company matching support project, 63 million KRW cut for corporate overseas market expansion support visits, 120 million KRW cut for remodeling corporate support center)

Finally, budgets for establishing a pet welfare center, external cooperation, and public data analysis research were fully cut.

The budget for establishing a pet welfare center was cut, resulting in the return of 150 million KRW in city subsidies already secured.

This not only causes the pet policy, a promise to residents, to lose momentum but also leads to the loss of credibility by giving up already secured external funds. This could become a weakness for our district in securing future external funds.

(※ 300 million KRW cut for pet welfare center establishment, 150 million KRW cut in city and provincial subsidies)

Budgets for external cooperation were also cut, halting Geumcheon-gu’s external activities. The entire budget for domestic and international sister city exchanges, which had been delayed due to COVID-19, was cut, raising concerns about the decline of our district’s external standing.

(※ 20 million KRW fully cut for visits to domestic and international exchange cities and institutions)

Additionally, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s recommended data-based administration and public data analysis research budget, which includes the “2023 Data-Based Administration Status Check” and “2023 Public Data Provision Operation Status Evaluation,” was fully cut. It is anticipated that Geumcheon-gu will receive a ‘poor evaluation’ in future government assessments for failing to implement recommended projects.

(※ 50 million KRW fully cut for data-based administration and public data analysis research)

Dear residents of Geumcheon-gu,

The budget is a map that shows the direction Geumcheon-gu should take and a blueprint for district administration.

The budgets cut this time were all precious funds intended for residents’ welfare, safety, and Geumcheon’s development.

I deeply regret having to deliver such disappointing news to residents, but Geumcheon-gu will not be discouraged and will fulfill its duty as a public institution providing administrative services closest to the residents. We will also strive to meet residents’ expectations with alternative measures and better policies.

Myself and the approximately 1,000 public officials of Geumcheon-gu will prioritize active administration to ensure a new leap forward for Geumcheon-gu, our home where we live and will continue to live, and to enable residents to live happy daily lives with pride, rather than prioritizing political positions.

I earnestly ask residents to continue their unwavering support and encouragement and to become policy partners for Geumcheon-gu’s development.

Thank you.

December 22, 2022

Mayor of Geumcheon-gu

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