Seoul District Mayors Association Identifies and Decides to Provide Disaster Relief Funds for 9 Overlooked Groups in Central and Metropolitan Areas

Support Targets ▲Village Bus Companies ▲Senior Care Facilities ▲Daycare Centers ▲Community Child Centers ▲Kindergartens ▲Religious Facilities ▲Closed Small Businesses ▲Unemployed Youth ▲Individual and Corporate Taxi Drivers, Total 9 Categories; Support Methods and Timing to Be Decided Autonomously by Each District

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] The Seoul Metropolitan Council of District Mayors (Chairman Lee Seong, Mayor of Guro District) held the 7th extraordinary meeting of the 4th year of the 7th local government term at 12 noon on the 21st at the Press Center, discussing major joint issues such as the ‘Measures to Promote Disaster Relief Funds for Autonomous Districts.’

In his greeting, Chairman Lee Seong said, “This year is the first year of the implementation of the new Local Autonomy Act,” adding, “As the role of local governments is more crucial than ever, we will do our best in the council’s role, including cooperation between metropolitan and basic governments, for the safety and happiness of residents.”

This meeting, held as the first face-to-face meeting since the launch of the 7th local government term, included New Year’s greetings among the attendees. Reflecting on the busy year of responding to and preventing COVID-19, they unanimously agreed to do their best during the remaining term to restore citizens’ daily lives in the new year.

The main agenda item was the ‘Measures to Promote Disaster Relief Funds for Autonomous Districts.’ Since each district has different circumstances such as population and finances, and limited resources must be allocated, lengthy discussions were held, resulting in the selection of nine final target groups and the establishment of a policy to provide disaster relief funds.

The nine selected targets include eight groups excluded from the government and Seoul city’s disaster relief fund recipients this year, and one group (corporate and individual taxi drivers) that is included in the government and Seoul city support targets but requires additional support.

The support targets are ▲village bus companies ▲elderly care facilities ▲daycare centers ▲community child centers ▲kindergartens ▲religious facilities ▲closed small business owners ▲unemployed youth ▲individual and corporate taxi drivers, totaling nine groups. The method and timing of support will be left to the discretion of each district.

However, support for individual and corporate taxi drivers was decided to be uniformly provided at 400,000 KRW per driver, following the precedent set by Gangnam and Songpa districts.

Chairman Lee Seong said, “It is regrettable that priorities had to be set as all citizens are facing difficulties due to the spread of COVID-19,” adding, “Although the financial conditions of each district are difficult due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, we identified blind spots for disaster relief funds by gathering opinions from each Seoul district that is on the front lines of quarantine and experiencing residents’ hardships. Through selection and concentration, we will leverage the strengths of basic local governments to support the most vulnerable parts of residents and actively participate in overcoming the pandemic situation.”

Attending the meeting were Chairman Lee Seong (Mayor of Guro District), Secretary-General Park Seong-su (Mayor of Songpa District), as well as Mayors Seo Yang-ho (Jung District), Seong Jang-hyun (Yongsan District), Jeong Won-oh (Seongdong District), Kim Seon-gap (Gwangjin District), Yoo Deok-yeol (Dongdaemun District), Ryu Kyung-gi (Jungnang District), Lee Seung-ro (Seongbuk District), Lee Dong-jin (Dobong District), Oh Seung-rok (Nowon District), Kim Mi-kyung (Eunpyeong District), Moon Seok-jin (Seodaemun District), Yoo Dong-gyun (Mapo District), Kim Soo-young (Yangcheon District), Yoo Seong-hoon (Geumcheon District), Chae Hyun-il (Yeongdeungpo District), Lee Chang-woo (Dongjak District), Park Jun-hee (Gwanak District), Jeong Soon-gyun (Gangnam District), and Lee Jeong-hoon (Gangdong District), totaling 21 district mayors.

Meanwhile, the 168th regular meeting is scheduled to be held at the end of February 2022.