Yoon Jeong-min, Gwangju Seo-gu Council Member, Warns "Budget Cuts Signal Red Light for Various Cultural Projects"

Yoon Jeong-min, a member of the Seo-gu District Council in Gwangju Metropolitan City, pointed out that "various cultural projects are at risk of disappearing due to budget cuts" and emphasized that "cultural rights are the rights of all citizens."

On the 19th, Councilor Yoon delivered a 5-minute free speech at the 3rd plenary session of the 315th extraordinary meeting.

Yoon stated, "There are growing concerns regarding the central government's recent cultural policies," and criticized, "The budget for cultural projects has been cut, signaling a 'red light' for everyday culture."

He added, "The entire budget for the 'Cultural Diversity Expansion Project,' which has been promoted for 12 years to respect diverse cultures, has been completely cut, leading to the project's abolition and causing uncertainty for the staff responsible for it."

He also expressed concern that "the budget for projects supporting the promotion of the national reading culture has not been established. Various programs at public libraries and local bookstores, such as 'Meet the Author' and 'Humanities Lectures,' which consider regional characteristics, are at risk of disappearing."

The abolition of cultural projects, he warned, "will first exacerbate difficulties for cultural workers and socially and economically vulnerable groups, along with the shrinking of citizens' cultural rights."

Councilor Yoon urged, "In accordance with the responsibilities of local governments, I ask that efforts be made in district administration to ensure that not a single resident is excluded from the realization of cultural rights."

Shin Dong-ho, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy bless4ya@asiae.co.kr

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