From 2024, Seoul City Increases Monthly Honorary Veteran Allowance from 100,000 to 150,000 Won

Seoul District Mayors Association Holds 186th Regular Meeting...Pre-consultation with District Mayors Association Required for City Subsidy Matching Projects Affecting Autonomous District Finances and New/Changed Seoul City Cash Welfare Policies...District Mayors Association and Seoul City Cooperate to Promote Healthy Local Autonomy Development

The Seoul Special City District Mayors' Council (Chairman Jeong Munheon, Mayor of Jongno-gu) held its 186th regular meeting on the 13th at 7:30 a.m. in the Planning Situation Room on the 6th floor of Seoul City Hall.

Held as a joint meeting between Seoul City and the District Mayors' Council, the meeting was attended by 24 district mayors including 12 deputy attendees, led by Chairman Jeong Munheon. From Seoul City, six related department heads including Kim Euisung, the First Deputy Mayor for Administration, participated.

During the meeting, six agenda items were reviewed and resolved: ▲ Proposal to adjust the contribution ratio due to increased mandatory spending in the welfare sector (Gangdong-gu) ▲ Reconsideration of a 50% reduction in Seoul City subsidies for autonomous district 50 Plus Centers (Seongdong-gu) ▲ Request for prior consultation with autonomous districts on cash welfare policies related to the increase of Seoul City’s Veterans Honor Allowance (Nowon-gu) ▲ Extension of the working period for traditional market managers under the Seoul-type New Deal Jobs program (Seodaemun-gu) ▲ Proposal to exclude retroactive acquisition tax on ‘premium’ for successor cooperative members (Eunpyeong-gu) ▲ Proposal for personnel expense support for license plate seizure enforcement on vehicles with delinquent automobile tax (Gangdong-gu).

Among these, it was resolved that prior consultation with the District Mayors' Council is required for projects involving matching subsidies from Seoul City and for the establishment or modification of cash welfare policies. Accordingly, three proposals?‘Adjustment of contribution ratio due to increased mandatory welfare spending,’ ‘Reconsideration of 50% reduction in subsidies for 50 Plus Centers,’ and ‘Request for prior consultation on cash welfare policies related to Veterans Honor Allowance increase’?were all approved as originally proposed.

In particular, the agenda item requesting prior consultation with autonomous districts on cash welfare policies related to the increase of Seoul City’s Veterans Honor Allowance was discussed in light of the allowance rising from 100,000 KRW to 150,000 KRW per month starting in 2024. This increase inevitably leads to demands for raising the veterans’ honor allowances supported by autonomous districts, which could widen support disparities and raise fairness issues. In response, Seoul City pledged to always consult with autonomous districts in advance whenever there are policy changes regarding cash welfare policies.

Additionally, since the eligibility, amount, and overlap of payments for Seoul City’s Veterans Honor Allowance and autonomous district veterans’ honor allowances vary by district, causing ongoing issues, it was agreed to conduct unified research to develop fundamental solutions.

Other agenda items included the ‘Extension of the working period for traditional market managers under the Seoul-type New Deal Jobs program,’ which was deferred for further review by Seoul City, and the proposal to exclude retroactive acquisition tax on ‘premium’ for successor cooperative members, which was rejected due to reasons including tax fairness.

The proposal for personnel expense support for license plate seizure enforcement on vehicles with delinquent automobile tax was also rejected, as Seoul City already provides collection transfer funds.

The 187th regular meeting is scheduled to be held on January 3, 2024.