Gyeongbuk Provincial Assemblyman Kim Ilsoo Points Out "Ninefold Increase in Welfare Facility Abuse Reports Over Three Years" at Administrative Audit
Gyeongbuk Receives "Insufficient" Rating in Disaster Management Assessment
Low Execution Rate for Regional Extinction Response Fund
The Administrative Health and Welfare Committee of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council, chaired by Kwon Gwangtaek, conducted the 2025 administrative audit of the Local Era Policy Bureau, the Welfare and Health Bureau, and the Safety Administration Office on November 14.
During the administrative audit of the Local Era Policy Bureau, Assemblyman Yoon Seungo (Yeongcheon) pointed out that, compared to the Seoul metropolitan area, overall conditions in local areas-including jobs, education, healthcare, and social overhead capital (SOC)-are deteriorating, which is accelerating the outflow of young people. He particularly emphasized that, as the second phase of public institution relocations is underway, the Local Era Policy Bureau must serve as an effective control tower to ensure more institutions move to Gyeongbuk.
Assemblyman Lim Gijin (Proportional Representation) noted that, among the 22 cities and counties, more than half have an execution rate of less than 20% for the Regional Extinction Response Fund, and in some cases, there has been virtually no execution at all. He argued that these poor results may stem not only from a lack of preparation at the local government level but also from insufficient support and guidance from the Gyeongbuk Province, and called for the establishment of a more practical management system, such as strengthening metropolitan-level consulting and building cooperative structures among cities and counties.
Assemblyman Bae Jinseok (Gyeongju) pointed out that the youth unemployment rate in Gyeongbuk remains high at 5.1%, and that there is a lack of infrastructure for young people to work in the region. He stressed the need for fundamental analysis and systematic approaches, such as strengthening ties with industrial cities and analyzing job structures by sector. He also called for the establishment of data-driven policy systems so that Gyeongbuk can secure clear direction and execution in youth policy.
Assemblyman Do Giuk (Yecheon) expressed concern that if the discussion on reorganizing into the "Five Core and Three Special Zones" is centered on Daegu, the northern region of Gyeongbuk could be relatively marginalized. He emphasized that, since the relocation of the provincial government complex, the northern part of Gyeongbuk has yet to fully establish its foundation, and that strategies for balanced development and strengthening self-sufficiency tailored to the region's characteristics are needed, beyond simply expanding SOC.
Assemblyman Park Youngseo (Mungyeong) called for improvements in how the "Gyeongbuk Youth Dream Allowance" program is promoted. He pointed out that, although announcements are currently made through the Economic Promotion Agency, young people actually use other platforms, such as the Korea Federation of SMEs, more frequently. He therefore urged that connections with channels frequently visited by young people be strengthened to improve policy accessibility.
During the administrative audit of the Welfare and Health Bureau, committee members collectively expressed strong concerns about the confusion in direction and lack of preparation for the "Happy Meal Table" project. They criticized that, although a full-scale expansion had been promised, the project is only being implemented in some areas, undermining policy consistency, and that it was pursued without sufficient demand surveys. Additionally, there were criticisms that effectiveness reviews and fiscal soundness assessments were lacking from the design stage. It was suggested that, as this could undermine public expectations and administrative trust, thorough re-examination and clear implementation plans are necessary.
Assemblyman Do Giuk (Yecheon) pointed out that the purchase rate of products made by people with severe disabilities remains low, and that despite ongoing calls for improvement, results have been insufficient. He stressed the need to strengthen efforts to expand purchases to support the independence and social value realization of people with severe disabilities.
Assemblyman Baek Sunchang (Gumi) emphasized that a cautious approach is needed for the establishment of a children's public rehabilitation hospital, based on the demand for children in each region. He cited the example of Daejeon, noting that detailed demand analysis for areas such as the northern and southeastern regions is essential to avoid operating deficits. He also referred to Japan's dementia management system, stating that Gyeongbuk's dementia policies should be improved by strengthening early screening and accessibility to dementia relief centers.
Vice Chairperson Kim Ilsoo (Gumi) noted that the rate of reported abuse cases in social welfare facilities in Gyeongbuk increased about ninefold, from 2.7% in 2021 to 25.2% in 2024, and emphasized the need for comprehensive inspection and improvement of facility operation and management systems.
Chairman Kwon Gwangtaek (Andong) pointed out that, despite the Welfare and Health Bureau's budget exceeding 4 trillion won, welfare blind spots still exist. He strongly called for a reorganization of fairness and priorities in budget execution. He particularly emphasized that, as with the "Happy Meal Table" project, meticulous review is essential from the planning stage of welfare policies, stating that getting the first step right can prevent conflict and waste.
Assemblyman Yoon Seungo (Yeongcheon) pointed out that Gyeongbuk Province received "insufficient" ratings for disaster management assessments in both 2023 and 2024, and only "average" in 2025, urging comprehensive improvement of the disaster response system. He argued that continued low ratings demonstrate the need for active measures to strengthen the province's disaster management capabilities and called for the development of effective disaster response strategies.
Assemblyman Baek Sunchang (Gumi) mentioned that this year, Gyeongbuk suffered massive damage from a mega wildfire and pointed out the limitations of equipment-centered responses. He emphasized the need for practical wildfire damage reduction measures, such as logging and backfire operations, in cooperation with cities and counties. He also requested that the overseas transfer project for fire trucks promoted by the Saemaul Foundation proceed without issues, and called for the strengthening of the verification system for the governor's commendation and measures to boost morale for employees working in less desirable departments.
Assemblyman Bae Jinseok (Gyeongju) argued that the repeated low ratings in disaster management assessments each year indicate that the province's disaster response measures are inadequate, and called for improvements. He also cited recent cases of telecommunications company hacking and a fire at the National Information Resources Service, warning that serious situations could arise in which rescue requests and administrative functions are paralyzed during communication failures. He urged the swift introduction of a dual server system that can be immediately restored during disasters, noting that Gyeongbuk currently has none in place.
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Chairman Kwon Gwangtaek (Andong) pointed out that the composition of residents' autonomy committees and councils varies by city and county, emphasizing the need for adjustments to strengthen the foundation of grassroots democracy. He also stated that, as the special wildfire law has been enacted, the province must thoroughly prepare for government enforcement decrees to ensure effective policy implementation. He particularly stressed the need to establish a practical recovery support system for wildfire-affected areas to provide real assistance to affected residents.
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