Park Junghyun, the governor of Buyeo County, stated on the 19th, "The provision of national funding support for local currency should be made mandatory."
Governor Park made this remark at the Chungnam Mayors and Governors Council held at the Korea Confucian Culture Promotion Institute in Nonsan City, saying, "Out of the 191 local governments using local currency, 157 have submitted opinions that national funding support is necessary."
He added, "Twelve out of the 17 metropolitan cities and provinces expressed negative opinions on the reduction of national funding," and pointed out, "The government is ignoring support for local currency without considering the unified voices of front-line local governments from both ruling and opposition parties."
Governor Park said, "Although the local currency budget has been restored in the National Assembly every year, it has been decreasing annually from 1.2522 trillion won in 2021, to 705.3 billion won in 2022, 352.5 billion won in 2023, and 300 billion won in 2024."
He argued, "This situation is shifting instability and burden onto the local governments that have greatly benefited from local currency, while causing anxiety and distrust among the beneficiaries, including small business owners and the general public."
He continued, "Local currency should not become a subject of political strife, as it is a means of survival for local economies in crisis," and added, "Government support for revitalizing local currency, along with the efforts of local governments, can save small businesses and inject vitality into the economy."
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