Kim Dong-yeon Meets Lee Jae-myung, Requests Support for Local Currency and National Budget for Livelihood Assistance

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon (right) warmly shakes hands with Party Leader Lee Jae-myung at the 'Gyeonggi Province-Democratic Party Budget Policy Meeting' held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office on the 26th.

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, requested the members of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea to reflect the national budget for issuing local currency and other Gyeonggi Province issues, urging active cooperation to overcome the crisis in the people’s economy.

In response, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, promised to find ways to ensure that related projects proceed smoothly, saying that local currency and youth policies initiated in Gyeonggi Province have encountered obstacles due to the government’s massive budget cuts.

Governor Kim attended the 'Democratic Party of Korea-Gyeonggi Province Budget Policy Council' held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office in Suwon on the 26th and said, "When an economic crisis occurs, the role of local governments closest to the people’s livelihood sites becomes important," adding, "Please help us to take the lead in overcoming livelihood-related crises with greater autonomy."

He also emphasized, "If the party provides full support and cooperation, we will definitely create a model in Gyeonggi Province that can reassure the people and embody the values and philosophy of the Democratic Party."

On that day, Gyeonggi Province proposed to the Democratic Party leadership ▲national budget support for issuing local currency ▲urban regeneration support ▲early promotion of GTX and review of various new lines ▲support for the establishment of the Gyeonggi Northern Special Self-Governing Province.

First, the province requested national budget support of 190.4 billion KRW for issuing local currency worth 4.7606 trillion KRW next year to support the recovery of small business damages. The government had previously cut the entire budget. The province insists that securing the national budget is essential because if the national budget is cut, the 10% local currency benefit cannot be provided.

The province also requested national budget support for legislative measures to unify the application and approval authority for old urban promotion districts under the city and provincial governors, preparation of reasonable floor area ratio increase standards, and expansion of infrastructure. It further demanded the restoration of the government’s urban regeneration project volume and national budget support, which have been drastically reduced under the current administration.

The province emphasized the need to consider various alternative routes, including early opening of GTX Line A to shorten long-distance commuting times in the metropolitan area, early construction of Lines B and C, and establishment of new Lines D, E, and F.

The province also requested legislative support for the establishment of the Gyeonggi Northern Special Self-Governing Province. Since the 'Special Act on the Establishment of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province' passed the National Assembly plenary session on May 29, the province sees the need to enact a special law that can boost the growth potential of northern Gyeonggi, which shares border areas with Gangwon Province and is subject to the same environmental and water source protection regulations.

The province proposed that the special law should include rationalization of military facility protection regulations and reasonable readjustment of the metropolitan area jurisdiction.

In response, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "It seems that the local currency policy implemented by Gyeonggi Province has encountered a major obstacle due to the government," adding, "Other policies such as youth support have also faced massive government budget cuts, but through today’s policy council, we will find ways to ensure that many policies promoted by Gyeonggi Province can be implemented without disruption."

He added, "Gyeonggi Province is a microcosm of South Korea. I think it would be good to experiment with risky policies that are difficult to implement at the government level in Gyeonggi Province, and if successful, to spread them."

Attending the council were Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, floor leader Park Hong-geun, Supreme Council members Park Chan-dae and Seo Young-kyo, Gyeonggi Provincial Party Chairman Lim Jong-sung, Policy Committee Chairman Kim Seong-hwan, and Budget Committee Chairman Woo Won-shik.

On that day, the province submitted written proposals on provincial issues including ▲extension of the deadline for the allocation of the local allocation tax compensation ▲customized smart regulatory reforms by region in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution ▲rapid introduction of the delivery price linkage system and improvement of the adjustment consultation system ▲expansion of local government autonomy in organizational rights ▲support for increased operation of metropolitan buses during commuting hours.

Additionally, the province requested support for securing a total of 925.4 billion KRW in national budget for seven major projects including 190.4 billion KRW for expanding issuance of Gyeonggi local currency, 104.3 billion KRW for supporting the difference in childcare fees for the Nuri curriculum, 35.2 billion KRW for basic income support for farmers in Gyeonggi Province, 203.6 billion KRW for expanding national budget support for senior job projects, 68.4 billion KRW for support projects around US military base areas in Korea, 103.5 billion KRW for low-floor bus purchase support, and 220 billion KRW for the Indeokwon-Dongtan double-track railway project.