Vice Minister of Economy Choi Sang-dae: "Lottery Fund to Actively Discover and Support New Welfare Projects"

Visited local children's center in Daejeon to listen to on-site difficulties

Choi Sang-dae, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, stated on the 31st, "To manage the lottery fund in accordance with its intended purpose, we will conduct a zero-base review of existing projects and actively discover new welfare projects for socially vulnerable groups."

On this day, Vice Minister Choi, who is also the chairman of the Ministry of Economy and Finance's Lottery Committee, met with related ministries, agencies, and facility officials at the Jeonggeum Regional Children's Center in Daejeon to gather opinions on on-site difficulties and areas requiring expanded support in the future, and made these remarks.

At the meeting, Vice Minister Choi evaluated, "The 32 trillion won lottery fund, accumulated over the past 20 years through lottery sales revenue, has been used for welfare projects for low-income, marginalized groups, and socially vulnerable people, greatly contributing to enhancing the public's positive perception of the lottery," and encouraged the efforts of on-site officials.

The regional children's center visited this time is a welfare facility for after-school activities for vulnerable children in the area. The government has increased operating expense support (from the Local Tax Allocation Account) by 19.7% compared to the previous year to ensure that the children using the facility can grow up safely and properly.

The lottery fund is also supporting projects such as ▲night care services ▲asbestos removal projects ▲energy efficiency projects to complement a robust and detailed protection system for vulnerable groups. The night care service project supports care teachers and programs outside the regional children's center operating hours (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.). The asbestos removal project improves hazardous environments in welfare facilities, with this year's budget increased by 16% compared to the previous year.

Officials from the center who participated in the meeting requested an expansion of lottery fund support for night care teacher assistance, which is in high demand among low-income dual-income families, and for facility environment improvements such as asbestos removal.