Uijeongbu City Urges City Council to Take Responsibility for Distorted Financial Claims

Uijeongbu City Delivers Letter to City Council: "No Fiscal Health Issues"
City Refutes Claims Over Surplus Funds and Local Bonds, Citing Concerns Over Public Confusion and Distorted Facts

Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province has called for a responsible attitude from the city council, labeling recent remarks by some council members regarding city finances as "distorted claims that do not reflect the facts."

Kang Hyunseok, Vice Mayor of Uijeongbu, visited the Uijeongbu City Council on the 18th to express regret over the distorted facts regarding city financial management spreading mainly among some city council members and delivered a letter urging a more responsible statement of position. Provided by Uijeongbu City

On the 18th, Kang Hyunseok, Vice Mayor of Uijeongbu, personally visited the city council to deliver a letter and pointed out that misinformation could lead to public anxiety and confusion.

The city emphasized three points: the need to verify facts accurately, the risks of repeating distorted claims, and the importance of a responsible statement from the city council.

Some members of the city council have alleged that the city is sitting on 129.3 billion won without spending it, but the city has strongly denied this claim.

Of the funds, 48.7 billion won, which can be used freely, has already been allocated or is scheduled to be used through supplementary budgets. This amount is only 3.3% of the previous year’s general budget, which is lower than the national average of about 5%, demonstrating that the city has used its budget efficiently and appropriately.

The remaining 80.6 billion won is special account funding that can only be used for essential infrastructure maintenance, such as water and sewage systems, parking lots, and incineration plants.

The city explained, "If these funds are diverted to general resources, it could cause significant difficulties in replacing urban infrastructure in the future."

There has also been ongoing controversy regarding the issuance of 46.4 billion won in local government bonds.

Uijeongbu City clarified, "Although there is a shortage of general account funds, issuing bonds was an unavoidable choice to complete ongoing projects." The city also stressed that most of these projects are long-term initiatives that began before the current mayor took office.

In particular, Uijeongbu City's debt ratio stands at 3.41%, which is only about half the national average of 7.57%, indicating that the city’s fiscal health is not at risk.

Some city council members argued that "if there is a large amount of surplus funds, a penalty should be applied by reducing the ordinary grant tax," but the city countered that "this is a misconception."

Uijeongbu City has a low fiscal independence rate and is therefore reliant on national support, such as grant taxes. The city pointed out, "If these incorrect claims result in a reduction of grant taxes, there will inevitably be a direct impact on citizens’ welfare, cultural, and transportation services."

Uijeongbu City concluded, "Despite challenging circumstances, we are managing our finances responsibly to minimize the burden on future generations. Further distorted perspectives and claims will only cause anxiety and confusion among citizens. We hope that both institutions will maintain a healthy balance of constructive criticism and responsible administration so that the city can move toward a better future."