Village Creation Council: "Treating as Simple Day Labor Is Disregard for Community Movement"
Chungnam Province: "It Was a Mistake Not to Properly Inform City and County Offices... Will Be Processed as Labor Cost"
The "Chungnam-style Village Creation" project in Chungnam Province is facing a major crisis due to controversy over the administrative interpretation by the provincial government office.
As the provincial government has classified the labor costs involved in the project as "simple labor wages," budget execution has been delayed, causing serious disruptions to project implementation at the city, county, and village levels.
According to Asia Economy's coverage on April 30, this project is a representative resident-participatory rural regeneration policy that Chungnam Province has proactively promoted even after the decentralization of local government authority.
This project, which has strengthened the foundation of local communities through the voluntary participation of farmers and civic groups, has been recognized as a practical alternative for villages facing extinction due to rural aging and population decline.
However, recently, as the provincial government’s working department interpreted the labor costs as "labor wages" and delayed budget approval, local organizations and residents are strongly protesting.
Previously, professionals such as local organizations or village activists contributed to the autonomous management of villages and the empowerment of residents, but there is criticism that the province has significantly devalued this work by classifying it as simple day labor.
The Chungnam Village Creation Council pointed out, "Treating residents' time, effort, and dedication as mere day labor is a disregard for the community movement," adding, "A unilateral administrative interpretation is shaking the foundation that has been built up over years."
The council also claimed, "Provincial government officials are subjecting city and county officials and residents to insulting remarks and excessive administrative pressure, and discrepancies between meeting statements and on-site explanations are increasing confusion."
One rural activist pointed out, "Communities that we have built over years of hard work are collapsing due to the province's irresponsible administrative handling," and added, "We are also struggling to secure relevant experts, and the overall momentum of the project is rapidly declining."
A provincial government official explained, "It was a mistake not to properly inform the city and county offices," and clarified, "We have decided to process the labor cost item as labor cost, not as simple labor wages."
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