Yang Bunam: "Time for Local Love Gift Certificates to Become a Fund"

Seminar on "Fund Integration of Local Love Gift Certificates" Held at the National Assembly

Democratic Party lawmaker BuNam Yang held a policy seminar on the 25th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building titled "Can Local Love Gift Certificates and Fund Systems Be Integrated?" Photo by BuNam Yang's Office

Yang Bunam, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party representing Gwangju Seo-gu-eul, held a policy seminar on the 25th in Seminar Room 2 of the National Assembly Members' Office Building under the theme "Can Local Love Gift Certificates and Fund Systems Be Integrated?"

The seminar was organized to examine the reality that Local Love Gift Certificates have faced budgetary uncertainties due to changes in government policy, and to discuss the "funding" approach as a means to ensure the sustainability and stability of the system.

At the seminar, Kang Hyunggu, a professor at Hanyang University who presented on "Strategies for Securing Resources and Revenue Models for Local Currency," argued, "The central government should operate a master fund, while local governments should maintain separate accounts and share liquidity with the master fund in real time." He emphasized, "It is important for the central government to manage not only the reserves but also the data, thereby building the necessary infrastructure."

Han Seunghun, director of the Korea Regional Management Institute, who presented on "The Current Operation of Local Love Gift Certificates and the Need for Funding," suggested, "We can enhance fiscal stability by reducing dependence on a single funding source." He proposed, "It is possible to accumulate fee revenue, interest income from operating funds, and the balance of unused gift certificates into the fund."

Yang, who hosted the seminar, stated, "Local Love Gift Certificates are an effective policy for revitalizing the local economy, but we have also experienced that their sustainability can be shaken depending on the administration if they are tied to the budget." He added, "With the judgment that 'funding' is necessary as a complementary measure, I organized this seminar."