National Assembly Public Administration Committee Forces Passage of Democratic Party's 'Local Love Gift Certificate Act'

Approval Amidst Opposition from Ruling Party, Passed with Support from Opposition
Park Jeong-hyun "Purpose is to Revive Local Economy"
Jo Eun-hee "Financial Burden... National Debt Will Increase"

The National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee approved the "Act on the Promotion of Local Love Gift Certificates (Local Gift Certificate Act)" proposed as a party policy by the Democratic Party of Korea. Although members of the People Power Party opposed it, citing a burden on the national finances, the amendment was passed with unanimous support from Democratic Party members.

The Local Gift Certificate Act was passed with the support of opposition party members at the Public Administration and Security Committee's plenary session on the 5th. The amendment passed by the committee on that day consolidated bills individually proposed by 10 Democratic Party members. It includes provisions requiring the national government to provide mandatory financial support when local governments issue local love gift certificates. Under the current law, the government provides support to local governments at its discretion for operational needs. If the amendment is enacted, the government will also be required to establish a basic plan for promoting local love gift certificates every five years and conduct surveys on their status.

Shin Jeong-hoon, Chairman of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, affiliated with the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Jo Eun-hee, the ruling party secretary of the Public Administration and Security Committee and a member of the People Power Party, opposed the bill, calling it "the worst law mandating cash handouts." She stated, "Due to the excessive financial burden and the rapid increase in national debt, people's livelihoods will collapse and the nation's credibility will fall," and criticized the bill as a "'Lee Jae-myung command law,' which should not be unilaterally pushed through." She used the term "command law" to criticize the Democratic Party's promotion of the amendment as a party policy.

Park Jeong-hyun, a Democratic Party member who proposed the bill, responded, saying, "It is regrettable and unfortunate that the People Power Party is using a representative livelihood bill as a tool for political strife," and added, "Since local finances are actually difficult, the intention is for the state to invest to supplement the struggling local government finances and revitalize the local economy."

Bills that pass the standing committee are referred to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The amendment is expected to be submitted to the plenary session as early as the 26th after passing through the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. If a majority votes in favor at the plenary session (a majority of the total members present and a majority of those present), the legislative process will be completed.