Significant Cuts to Resident Welfare Project Budget in Gwangju Buk-gu, Overseas Training to Proceed as Planned

Significant Budget Cuts for Children and Disabled Projects Compared to Last Year Under 'Austerity Policy'

Overseas Travel Expenses for Public Officials Maintained... Support for 60 People to Visit Advanced Sites

District Official: "Positive

Despite significant cuts to various resident welfare projects due to a tax revenue shortfall, Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City is facing criticism for pushing forward with overseas training for public officials.

According to the district on the 27th, 60 outstanding public officials selected will embark on overseas advanced site visits according to their individual schedules within this year.

Starting with Singapore on February 29, overseas schedules are lined up consecutively in the United States, Italy, Spain, and other countries. The support cost per person is up to 2 million KRW, with a total budget of 120 million KRW being executed.

The problem lies in the fact that, despite adopting a "tightening stance" to reduce event-related projects by 20% in each department due to financial deterioration, the overseas travel expenses were left intact.

While various welfare project funds for local residents were targeted for cuts, not reducing the "overseas business travel expenses," which could be classified as consumable expenses, has been criticized as a "waste of taxpayers' money."

In fact, when combined with the budget for public service backpacking trips, the related overseas travel expenses increased by 4 million KRW.

Last year, the district office’s budget department was under urgent pressure due to an expected national tax shortfall. It was anticipated that the real estate grant tax, one of the local allocation taxes, would decrease by about 3.5 billion KRW, or 18%, compared to the previous year.

They had no choice but to tighten their belts by reducing expenditure. Ultimately, the easiest to cut, event operation expenses, were reduced by 37% from the previous year to 1.8 billion KRW.

Specifically, the "Visiting Village Playground Program," a new policy launched last year by the Child and Youth Division, was completely cut. This project was promoted as an excellent case in the "2023 Child Policy Impact Assessment" hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, with Buk-gu boasting its UNICEF-certified child-friendly city status.

In the case of the Disability Welfare Division, various budgets were drastically cut, including a 16% reduction in consumable purchases for free car repair services for the disabled, and 40% cuts in events such as the Disabled Love Outing and the Disabled Senior Filial Piety One-Heart Consolation Festival.

The Senior Welfare Division decided to implement the Senior Long-term Baduk Tournament and the Bitgoeul Senior Festival, which require several million KRW in budget, on a biennial basis starting this year.

A local resident, Lee Mo (36), criticized, "Welfare benefits for children, seniors, and the disabled have been reduced or abolished due to decreased tax revenue, yet public officials are planning to waste taxpayers' money by traveling overseas without sharing the burden. This behavior treats taxes as if they were free money."

In response, a district official explained, "We understand the concern that overseas site visits may not align with residents' expectations, but we must also consider the positive effects of enhancing public officials' international awareness and providing opportunities for self-development to strengthen their work capabilities."

Meanwhile, outstanding public officials were selected on the 8th through a review committee consisting of two external and four internal members. The evaluation criteria included length of service, public official awards, and experience with overseas official trips.