Seodaemun-gu "Next Year's Budget Proposal Slashed by Democratic Party... Will Request Reconsideration"

Women's Basketball Team, Cafe Pokpo Budget, and Others 'Fully' Cut
"Majority Party's Tyranny Faces Seodaemun-gu's Unprecedented Crisis"

The budget proposal for next year in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, was abruptly amended and approved by the majority Democratic Party council members, causing disruptions to next year’s projects. Seodaemun-gu stated, “We will request reconsideration regarding the budget amendment motion that violated the council’s meeting rules.”

Exterior view of Seodaemun-gu Office building. The white building visible in the back is the Seodaemun-gu Council building. Provided by Seodaemun-gu.

Seodaemun-gu reported on the 23rd that the ‘2025 Seodaemun-gu Budget Proposal’ faced an unprecedented crisis in the district’s history after being abruptly amended and approved just before the plenary session vote on the last day of the ‘304th Seodaemun-gu Council 2nd Regular Meeting’ on the 20th.

The 2025 budget proposal was finalized on the 17th after budget reviews by each standing committee and the Budget and Accounts Committee, reaching a bipartisan agreement. The final adjustment on the 17th involved Kim Yang-hee, Chairperson of the Seodaemun-gu Council from the Democratic Party, Yoon Yoo-hyun, Chairperson of the Budget and Accounts Committee, Park Jin-woo, the People Power Party floor leader, Seo Ho-sung from the Democratic Party, and Joo Isaac from the Reform New Party.

However, the closing ceremony scheduled for the morning of the 20th was postponed, and during the plenary session held that afternoon, the Democratic Party members’ surprise amendment motion was approved as is, replacing the previously agreed bipartisan proposal, according to the district’s explanation.

The Seodaemun-gu Council consists of 15 members, with 8 belonging to the Democratic Party, making it the majority party. The sudden proposal and approval have been criticized for nullifying the efforts of both ruling and opposition council members over the past three weeks in an instant.

Seodaemun-gu claims there is a strong suspicion of targeted cuts to the budget for new projects initiated in the 8th local government administration. Due to the approval of this amendment, 3.146 billion KRW was cut from lifelong learning and community space support and village festival support projects in each neighborhood, 2.341 billion KRW from road facility maintenance and neighborhood facility improvement projects, and 1.11 billion KRW from senior citizen job programs and low-income senior support projects.

Additionally, funds for projects supporting persons with disabilities, discovering welfare blind spots, child and youth support, smoking cessation support, mental health care, creation of water play areas in children’s parks, maintenance of Inwangsan hiking trails, and establishment of senior centers were also cut.

In particular, the district explained that the entire 848 million KRW operating budget for the ‘Seodaemun-gu Office Women’s Basketball Team,’ which swept all four national tournaments this year, the 1 billion KRW project budget for the ‘Cafe Waterfall Hallyu Culture Experience Center,’ which has rapidly become a healing spot visited by 1.5 million domestic and foreign visitors, and the 290 million KRW budget for ‘classical music performances’ were completely cut, making project continuation uncertain.

The entire operating budget of 848 million KRW for next year for the 'Seodaemun-gu Office Women's Basketball Team,' which won all four national tournaments this year, was completely cut by district council members affiliated with the Democratic Party of Korea. The photo shows a commemorative picture taken after their undefeated victory in this year's Industrial Basketball Federation Championship. Provided by Seodaemun-gu.

Seodaemun-gu stated, “If the council plenary session recklessly approves amendment motions ignoring agreements made in each standing committee and the Budget and Accounts Committee, the committee system will become meaningless,” adding, “According to Article 62 of the ‘Seoul Metropolitan City Seodaemun-gu Council Meeting Rules,’ budget amendment motions must go through the Budget and Accounts Committee review, but this was bypassed and passed by a sudden vote, so we will request reconsideration in the future.”

District Mayor Lee Seong-heon said, “I am concerned that the unreasonable exercise of budget approval rights by Democratic Party council members may lead to council dysfunction and harm to residents,” emphasizing, “Although very disappointing, we will not be discouraged and will continue to devote ourselves to projects that increase residents’ happiness by 200%.” He added, “Regardless of party affiliation, I ask the council to faithfully fulfill its essential role in taking responsibility for residents’ daily lives.”