"Execution Rate Fails to Reach 50%, Raising Concerns Over Evaluation Disadvantages...
Fund Projects Lacking Youth and Job Creation Are Hollow"
Kim Ajin, a member of the Seocheon County Council (Democratic Party of Korea), criticized the low execution rate and ineffective operation of Seocheon County's Local Extinction Response Fund.
He pointed out, "Of the total fund of 32.4 billion won, less than half has been used, remaining at the level of showmanship administration," and added, "Budget execution without results undermines the very purpose of responding to population decline."
During a county administration inquiry at the 335th temporary session of the county council held on October 27, Kim stated, "Seocheon County is currently implementing 11 projects, but as of the end of February this year, the execution rate was only 20.9%, and as of October, it remains at around 50%. Although the county has set a goal of reaching 59.7% by the end of the year, it seems realistically impossible."
He further explained, "The Local Extinction Response Fund is not just a budget; the allocation for the following year changes based on the government's performance evaluation. If the county focuses solely on meeting the execution rate, it could actually receive a lower grade and suffer disadvantages."
In particular, he criticized, "A significant portion of the fund's projects are skewed toward short-term infrastructure maintenance or facility improvements, lacking the essence of population policy, such as attracting young people, encouraging urban-to-rural migration, and creating local jobs. It is hollow administration."
He emphasized, "From the project planning stage, the county should not rely solely on outsourcing but should establish practical and actionable investment plans by consulting experts from central government ministries or South Chungcheong Province. What is needed now is not just spending, but actual results."
He also argued, "The Local Extinction Response Fund is a temporary program that will only operate until 2031. After that, a sustainable financial system must be established quickly through local resources, private investment, and provincial funding."
Kim stressed, "Seocheon County's response to local extinction should shift from a numbers-focused execution rate competition to a structure centered on population recovery. The county needs to adopt a Seocheon-style population policy that attracts young people, encourages families to settle, and appeals to those considering urban-to-rural migration."
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