Assemblyman Heo Seongmu: "Excluding Masan from Population Decline Support Contradicts Policy Intent"

Minister Yoon Hojoong of the Interior and Safety:
"Criteria to Be Reviewed for Next Year's Redesignation,
Administrative Districts Like Masan Will Be Fully Considered"

Heo Seongmu, a member of the National Assembly (Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, Changwon Seongsan), strongly criticized at the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts inquiry into non-economic ministries on the 13th, stating, "The government's self-imposed principle of excluding disadvantages is working in the exact opposite way in the unified city of Masan." He added, "Even though Masan faces the same issues of population decline and aging, it is subject to institutional discrimination in the allocation of various national funds simply because it is classified as an 'administrative district,' not a self-governing district."

Photo by Heo Seongmu, Member of the National Assembly, Budget and Accounts Committee Inquiry.

Assemblyman Heo referenced Article 48 of the Local Decentralization and Balanced Development Act, which stipulates the principle of excluding disadvantages and was clearly stated during the government's 2010 push for the unification of Masan, Changwon, and Jinhae, promising "not to impose new burdens on residents." He emphasized, "This promise is not being kept in Masan today."

The population of Masan decreased by about 50,000, from 400,000 in 2010 at the time of unification to 350,000 in 2025, and the proportion of residents aged 65 and older has reached 25.7%, entering the stage of a super-aged society. Assemblyman Heo explained, "According to the government's own standards, Masan is a typical at-risk area for population decline, but because it was organized as an administrative district rather than a self-governing district during the unification process, it is not even eligible for such designation."

In response, Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Hojoong said, "We are aware of the problems with the current system," and added, "When the criteria and methods for designating population decline areas are reviewed again in 2026, we will fully consider regions that became administrative districts through unification." This marks an official expression of the government's intention to improve the system.

Assemblyman Heo stated, "The 350,000 citizens of Masan should not be left in an institutional blind spot," and revealed, "We are preparing a bipartisan amendment to the Local Decentralization and Balanced Development Act so that administrative districts can also be designated as population decline areas."

Assemblyman Heo also addressed ongoing livelihood issues in schools and local communities. He first pointed out that approximately 80,000 non-working educational support staff nationwide are effectively on unpaid leave during the two-month school vacation, stating, "Rather than shifting responsibility between the Ministry of Education and provincial and municipal education offices, the government and local authorities should establish a structure to share the responsibility together."

In response, Minister of Education Choi Kyujin said, "This is a long-standing issue, and I agree with your point," adding, "We are in discussions with provincial and municipal education offices and will actively seek solutions."

Assemblyman Heo further noted that the budget for the school arts instructor program has been drastically cut under the Yoon Sukyeol administration, stating, "Arts education is especially valuable for students in provincial areas, but with the budget cuts, classes are being reduced and instructors' livelihoods are threatened," and requested the restoration of the budget.

In response, the Minister of Education expressed willingness to restore the budget, stating, "This is a program with high satisfaction on the ground," and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism also responded, "We recognize the need for the arts instructor program and believe central government support is necessary again."

Assemblyman Heo emphasized, "Due to reduced government revenues under the Yoon Sukyeol administration, local education grants and subsidies have decreased, shifting the burden to local education offices and creating a structural problem," and stressed, "Restoration is essential in next year's budget."

He concluded, "Resolving the blind spot in Masan's population decline, supporting the livelihoods of educational support staff during school vacations, and restoring the budget for school arts instructors are all issues critical to protecting the lives of people in our communities and schools," and pledged, "I will continue to ensure the government keeps its promises and improves the system."

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